| Specimen requirement | Whole Blood | Urine |
| Adult patient: Special EDTA tube for trace elements Minimum blood volume: 2.6 mL |
Spot urine: Special acid wash bottle for trace elements Volume: 10 mL
|
|
| Paediatric patient: Special EDTA tube for trace elements Minimum blood volume: 1.3 mL |
||
| Authorisation code required | No | No |
| 24 Hr available service | No | No |
| Method | Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) | |
| Reference interval |
Whole blood:
< 50 nmol/L
(Source:The Scottish Trace Element and Micronutrient Diagnostic and Research Laboratory (STEMDRL), NHS, UK
Urine:
< 2.0 nmol/mmol Cr
(Source: Central Sydney Lab Service Handbook) |
|
| Clinical indication | Cobalt is an essential element for the synthesis of vitamin B12 (cobalamin), but is toxic at high levels. Measurement is for: - Detect cobalt exposure and/or toxicity. - Monitor wear of metal-on-metal hip implants. |
|
| Result interpretation |
Cobalt levels are most stable in whole blood and is for assessing chronic exposure (e.g. from metal implants). Urine cobalt provide a sensitive index of recent exposure. |
|
| Measurement of uncertainty | See table. | |
| Frequency of measurement | Weekly | |