Mercury, 24-Hour Urine

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1232149, Beaker: Mercury 24U, Quest: 36441

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

• Please refer to the Specimen Collection Manual for instructions on 24-Hour Urine Collection:
  • Urine 24-Hour Collection - Inpatient
  • Urine 24-Hour Collection - Outpatient
  • Urine 24-Hour Collection - Outreach
• High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are known to interfere with most metals tests. If either gadolinium- or iodine-containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for 96 hours.
• Avoid seafood consumption for 48 hours prior to collection.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: 24-hour urine sample with no preservative.

Keep 24-hour urine specimen iced or refrigerated during collection.

Include start and end dates and times for the collection period on the specimen container.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Maintain specimens refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Entire 24-hour urine collection refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Rejection Criteria

Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Measure total volume of the 24-hour urine specimen. Record total volume and collection start and end dates and times in the LIS system. Aliquot 7.0 mL from the well-mixed 24-hour urine collection into a metal-free transport tube. (Minimum: 3.0 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 48 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 5 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 14 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

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.
Results available in 3-5 days.

Reference Range

Reference Range	≤20 mcg/L
Toxic	≥150 mcg/L

Test Methodology

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Interpretation

By report.

Clinical Utility

Mercury, a highly toxic metal, is present in select industrial environments and in contaminated ocean fish. Urinary measurements are appropriate for assessing ongoing exposure to inorganic mercury.

CPT Codes

83825

Contacts

Last Updated

12/18/2025