Specimen Requirements
Offsite Collection Instructions
Blood: Collect blood in a royal blue top (trace element) tube with EDTA (K2). Refrigerate intact specimen. Heparinized specimens are unacceptable. Urine: Collect 24 hour urine in a clean, plastic container with no metal cap or glued insert and no preservative. Aliquot urine into a clean, plastic container with no metal cap or glued insert and refrigerate within 4 hours of completion of collection. Record 24 hour urine volume and collection dates/times on the request form. Collection must take place prior to or 48 hours after administering gadolinium-containing contrast media.
Contraindication
High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are known to interfere with most metals tests. If either gadolinium- or iodine-containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for 96 hours.
Container
Normal Volume
Blood: 2.0 ml whole blood. Urine: 10 ml aliquot of 24 hour urine collection.
Minimum Volume
Blood: 0.5 ml whole blood. Urine: 1 ml aliquot of 24 hour urine collection.