Mercury - urine
Last updated: Tuesday, 30, March, 2004
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| Item | Process |
|---|---|
| Specimen | 24 hour urine collection with special preservatives. |
| Method | Atomic absorption spectrophotometry. |
| Reference Interval | <0.20 µmol/24 hours. |
| Application | Suspected mercury poisoning. Occupational exposure. There is no convincing evidence that measurement of urine mercury is useful in the diagnosis of toxicity due to amalgam fillings. |
| Interpretation | Excretion of >0.5 µmol/24 hours indicates a high probability of mercury poisoning, sufficient to cause symptoms. |
| Reference | Risher JF et al. |