Toxic Elements Screen (TES) in Urine

Brief Description

This inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer method uses a multi-internal standard dilution technique to provide rapid and accurate quantification of multiple elements; Arsenic (As), Beryllium (Be), Cadmium (Cd), Barium (Ba), Thallium (Th), Lead (Pb), and Uranium (Ur) in urine. This procedure can be used for all 7 elements or subset of the 7 elements.

Laboratory Unit

Chemical Threat

Methodology

ICP-MS

Specimen Collection

Urine:

Collect 4 to 7 mL of urine. Two empty containers of the same lot number should be submitted with the specimen.  The absolute minimum amount of specimen is about 1.5mL.

Storage/Transport

Consultation is required with GPHL Emergency Response Coordinator Req 24/7 contact number: 866-782-4584.

Urine  should be stored frozen (-20°C or colder) and shipped with dry ice.

Acceptable Specimen Type(s)

Urine

Test Request

Possible Results

  • Arsenic (As) 6.0 µg/L – 2000 µg/L
  • Beryllium (Be) 0.3 µg/L – 100 µg/L
  • Cadmium (Cd) 0.24 µg/L – 80 µg/L
  • Barium (Ba) 0.6 µg/L –200 µg/L
  • Thallium (Tl) 0.12 µg/L – 40 µg/L
  • Lead (Pb) 0.3 µg/L – 100 µg/L
  • Uranium (U) 0.015 µg/L – 5 µg/L
  • Not detected
  • Unsatisfactory

Reference Range

  • Arsenic (As) 30 µg/L
  • Beryllium (Be) <0.13 µg/L
  • Cadmium (Cd) 1.36 µg/L
  • Barium (Ba) 7.48 µg/L
  • Thallium (Tl) 0.440 µg/L
  • Lead (Pb) 2.60 µg/L
  • Uranium (U) 0.046 µg/L

Unacceptable Conditions

  • Missing testing requisition
  • Missing minimum of 2 patient identifiers
  • Improper labeling
  • Improper storage/transport of specimen
  • No specimen received (empty collection tube).
  • Low Volume (<1.5 mL)
  • Wrong specimen type
  • Specimen damaged, broken, or leaking upon arrival

Interfering Substances

N/A

Result Reported

1-3 business days

Turnaround times may be affected by the scale of the event.

Fees

No charge

LOINC/Order Codes

29589-9 (Order code: CT021700)