Mercury, Blood

Test Code

MERC

Alias/See Also

Blood Mercury

Quest Code
636

CPT Codes
83825

Preferred Specimen

4 mL whole blood collected in an EDTA (royal blue-top) tube

Minimum Volume

2 mL

Patient Preparation
Avoid seafood consumption for 48 hours prior to sample collection.

Instructions

Carefully clean skin prior to venipuncture.
Tests performed on a specimen submitted in a non-trace element tube or non acid washed/non metal free container may not accurately reflect the patient's level. If a non-trace element tube/container is received, it will be accepted for testing. However, elevated results shall be reported with a message that a re-submission with a trace element tube/container is recommended.

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 5 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: unacceptable

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Clotted specimens

Methodology
Inductively Coupled Plasma / Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS)

Setup Schedule

Monday-Saturday p.m.

Report Available

Next day

Clinical Significance

The primary clinical utility of blood mercury is the determination of abnormal exposures seen at levels over 20 µg/L. Mercury is absorbed via the respiratory tract (mercury vapors), skin, and gastrointestinal tract. Mercury poisoning can cause kidney damage. The chronic effect of mercury poisoning includes inflammation of mouth and gums, loosening of the teeth, kidney damage, nervousness, depression, and spasms.

Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
Chantilly, VA

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.