Test Overview
Test Methodology

Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Test Usage

Diagnosis of nickel poisoning.

Reference Range *

<2.0 ng/mL

Test Limitations

Nickel exists in the environment at 1,000 times the concentration found in biological specimens. Specimen collection procedures require rigorous attention to ultraclean specimen collection procedures, tubes, sample handling and analysis. Hypernickelemia in the absence of exposure to Ni(CO)4 - nickel carbonyl - may be an incidental finding or due to contamination.

Test Details
Days Set Up
Thursday
Analytic Time

1 - 7 days

Soft Order Code
NI-S
MiChart Code
Nickel, Serum
Synonyms
  • NI-S
  • NICKEL, SERUM
  • Ni (Nickel), Serum
Laboratory
Sendout
Reference Laboratory
Mayo NIS (8622)
Section
Special Testing
Specimen Requirements
Collection Instructions

Royal blue (trace element) and/or Metal-Free aliquot tubes are available from MLabs (800-862-7284). Collect blood in a royal blue top (trace element) tube with no preservative (serum). Allow specimen to clot for 30 minutes, centrifuge, and carefully pour serum into a metal-free aliquot tube, avoiding transfer of the cellular components of blood. Do not insert a pipet into the serum to transfer and do not ream the specimen with a wooden stick to assist with the transfer. Refrigerate up to 48 hours or freeze for longer storage. Do not collect specimens for trace metal testing from patients who have received gadolinium-, iodine-, or barium-containing contrast material within the past 96 hours. These metal-based contrast agents are known to interfere with laboratory techniques commonly used for trace metals analysis.

Contraindications
Investigation of hypernickelemia should be limited to patients with potential for exposure to Ni(CO)4 - nickel carbonyl - used in petroleum refining and in the plastics industry. 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.
Red Top Tube
Red Top Tube
Normal Volume
2 mL serum
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL serum
Additional Information

Test sent to Mayo Medical Laboratories.

Billing
CPT Code
83885
Fee Code
32129
NY State Approved
No