Copper, Urine

CPT: 82525; 82570
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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.


Expected Turnaround Time

2 - 4 days



Related Documents


Specimen Requirements


Specimen

Urine (random or 24-hour)


Volume

5 mL


Minimum Volume

1.3 mL (Note: This volume does not allow for repeat testing.)


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.


Stability Requirements

Temperature

Period

Room temperature

14 days

Refrigerated

14 days

Frozen

14 days

Freeze/thaw cycles

Stable x3


Test Details


Use

Monitor exposure to copper


Limitations

Increased urinary copper excretion may occur in ICC or with chronic active hepatitis; Wilson's 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.

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by LabCorp. It has not been cleared or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.


Methodology

Inductively-coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS)


Reference Interval

Environmental exposure: 3−35 μg/24 hours; <50 μg/g creatinine1


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's 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

1. Lauwerys RR, Hoet P, Industrial Chemical Exposure: Guidelines for Biological Monitoring, 2nd ed, Boca Raton, FL: Lewis Publishers, 1993, 291.
2. Jacobs DS, DeMott WR, Oxley DK, et al, Laboratory Test Handbook With Key Word Index, 5th ed, Hudson, OH: Lexi-Comp Inc, 2001.

LOINC® Map

Order Code Order Code Name Order Loinc Result Code Result Code Name UofM Result LOINC
003343 Copper, Urine 5632-5 133439 Copper, Urine ug/L 5632-5
003343 Copper, Urine 5632-5 723280 Creatinine(Crt),U g/L 2161-8
003343 Copper, Urine 5632-5 133448 Copper/Crt Ratio ug/g creat 13829-7
003343 Copper, Urine 5632-5 133447 Copper,Urine 24 Hr ug/24 hr 5633-3

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