| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # |
COPPER, SERUM
Test Code1586
CPT Codes
82525
Preferred Specimen
"Serum or plasma
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Minimum Volume
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0.2 mL
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0.2 mL
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Transport Container
"Royal blue-top (EDTA) tube or royal blue-top without EDTA
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Transport Temperature
room temp
Specimen Stability
14 days
Methodology
"Inductively-coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) "
Limitations
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Serum ceruloplasmin is an acute-phase reactant type protein, and since it binds a large portion of serum copper, both serum copper and ceruloplasmin increase under the influence of inflammatory conditions and estrogen. Serum copper is, therefore, elevated in pregnancy, in patients on estrogens and estrogen-containing contraceptive drugs, in rheumatoid arthritis, and a number of other pathologic entities. It may be low with low serum proteins as in nephrosis, malabsorption, and malnutrition without necessarily reflecting inadequate liver copper stores. It is reduced under the influence of ACTH or glucocorticoids, or valproate3 therapy. Although serum copper levels are usually ordered to work up possible cases of Wilson's disease, Menkes syndrome, and ICC, serum copper alone is of only limited value. Elevations in liver tissue copper are found in Wilson's disease but may occur also in other types of liver disease, especially in primary biliary cirrhosis.4
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Serum ceruloplasmin is an acute-phase reactant type protein, and since it binds a large portion of serum copper, both serum copper and ceruloplasmin increase under the influence of inflammatory conditions and estrogen. Serum copper is, therefore, elevated in pregnancy, in patients on estrogens and estrogen-containing contraceptive drugs, in rheumatoid arthritis, and a number of other pathologic entities. It may be low with low serum proteins as in nephrosis, malabsorption, and malnutrition without necessarily reflecting inadequate liver copper stores. It is reduced under the influence of ACTH or glucocorticoids, or valproate3 therapy. Although serum copper levels are usually ordered to work up possible cases of Wilson's disease, Menkes syndrome, and ICC, serum copper alone is of only limited value. Elevations in liver tissue copper are found in Wilson's disease but may occur also in other types of liver disease, especially in primary biliary cirrhosis.4
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Reference Range
"Environmental exposure: 72-166 µg/dL. Levels may be somewhat higher in pregnant women and children and in patients receiving estrogen therapy.
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