Cobalt, Serum, Plasma

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1232039, Beaker: COBALT, SERU, Quest: 345

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Royal Blue-top tube with no additive.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Allow the specimen to clot for 30 minutes. Centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum a metal free transport tube and maintain specimen at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 0.5 mL serum or plasma, at room temperature (20-25°C or 68-77°F). (Minimum: 0.2 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Tubes that are not metal-free.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Allow the specimens to clot for 30 minutes. Centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to a metal free transport tube and maintain specimen at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) prior to transport.

Transport: 0.5 mL serum, at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F). (Minimum: 0.2 mL) 

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 10 days
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 10 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 10 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Quest Diagnostics, Wood Dale, IL.

Performed

Monday – Friday.
Results available in 3 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS)

Interpretation

By report.

CPT Codes

83018

Contacts

Last Updated

12/17/2025