Copper, Urine
| Copper, Urine | | | |
| Number | | 003343 |
| CPT | | 82525; 82570 |
| Related Information | | Copper, Serum or Plasma Urine Testing: Preservative Quick Reference Chart |
| Synonyms | | Cu, Urine |
| Test Includes | | Copper, urine; creatinine, urine; copper:creatinine ratio; copper, urine (24-hour) |
| Special Instructions | | Request form must state 24-hour collection volume, if applicable. Do not use preservative. Preservatives used for routine analysis may contain mercuric oxide (ie, Stabilur), which interferes with all metal testing. If both urinalysis and metal testing are ordered, please submit a separate urine specimen (containing no additive) for the metal testing. |
| Specimen | | Urine (random or 24-hour) |
| Volume | | 5 mL |
| Minimum Volume | | 1.3 mL |
| Container | | Plastic urine container, no preservative |
| Collection | | Instruct the patient to void at 8 AM and discard the specimen. Then collect all urine including the final specimen voided at the end of the 24-hour collection period (ie, 8 AM the next morning). Screw the lid on securely. |
| Storage Instructions | | Maintain specimen at room temperature. |
| Reference Interval | | Environmental exposure: 2-80 μg/L; 3-35 μg/24 hours; <50 μg/g creatinine1 |
| Use | | Monitor exposure to copper |
| Limitations | | Increased urinary copper excretion may occur in ICC or with chronic active hepatitis; Wilson disease and chronic active hepatitis may also resemble one another; thus, parameters in addition to urinary copper excretion, such as ceruloplasmin and serum copper, are needed. |
| Methodology | | Inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) |
| Additional Information | | Copper poisoning through chronic inhalation of copper fumes and/or dusts that are typically associated with industry may produce symptoms of nausea, vomiting, nervous manifestations, and hepatomegaly. Acute exposures through inhalation can cause typical metal-fume fever, chills, upper respiratory irritation, and aching muscles. Elevated urine copper levels may also occur with biliary cirrhosis, chronic active hepatitis, or Wilson disease.2 Copper poisoning through chronic exposure is rare in the general population, excepting individuals with Wilson disease. Overexposure to copper is generally associated with industry through the inhalation of copper dust and/or fumes that arise in operations involving copper (eg, metallurgy, copper plating, soldering). Acute ingestion is a viable concern for the general population and can be precipitated by food contamination from copper utensils or the accidental or intentional ingestion of copper salts. |
| Footnotes | | - Lauwerys RR and Hoet P, Industrial Chemical Exposure: Guidelines for Biological Monitoring, 2nd ed, Boca Raton, FL: Lewis Publishers, 1993, 291.
- Jacobs DS, DeMott WR, Oxley DK, et al, Laboratory Test Handbook With Key Word Index, 5th ed, Hudson, OH: Lexi-Comp Inc, 2001
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