Mercury, Blood

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB12320760 Beaker: Mercury, Quest: 636

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Royal Blue-top EDTA tube.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Do not centrifuge. Maintain whole blood refrigerated at (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 4.0 mL whole blood, refrigerated at (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 2.0 mL)

Rejection Criteria

Specimens not collected or processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Do not centrifuge. Maintain whole blood refrigerated at (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Transport: 4.0 mL whole blood refrigerated at (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 2.0 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 5 days
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

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 2 days.

Reference Range

≤10 mcg/L

Test Methodology

Inductively Coupled Plasma / Mass Spectrometry

Interpretation

By report.

Clinical Utility

Mercury, a highly toxic metal, is present in select industrial environments and in contaminated ocean fish.

CPT Codes

83825

Contacts

Last Updated

12/18/2025