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HelpEpic Test Code LAB21049 Cobalt, 24 Hour, Urine
Additional Codes
MML Code: COU
NY State Approved
YesPerforming Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Reporting Name
Cobalt, 24 Hr, UMethod Name
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urine | Refrigerated (preferred) | 28 days | |
| Ambient | 28 days | ||
| Frozen | 28 days |
Ordering Guidance
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.
Necessary Information
24-Hour volume (in milliliters) is required.
Specimen Required
Supplies: Urine Tubes, 10 mL (T068)
Collection Container/Tube: Clean, plastic urine container with no metal cap or glued insert
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic, 10-mL urine tube or clean, plastic aliquot container with no metal cap or glued insert
Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Collect urine for 24 hours.
2. Refrigerate specimen within 4 hours of completion of 24-hour collection.
3. See Metals Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport for complete instructions.
Additional Information: See Urine Preservatives-Collection and Transportation for 24-Hour Urine Specimens for multiple collections.
Specimen Type
UrineSpecimen Minimum Volume
0.3 mL
Reference Values
0-17 years: Not established
≥18 years: 0.2-3.5 mcg/24 hours
Report Available
1 to 4 daysDay(s) Performed
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
CPT Code Information
83018
Reject Due To
All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.Useful For
Detecting cobalt exposure
Monitoring metallic prosthetic implant wear
This test is not useful to assess vitamin B12 activity.
Special Instructions
Clinical Information
Cobalt is rare but widely distributed in the environment. It is an essential cofactor in vitamin B12. While cobalt is an essential element, cobalt deficiency has not been reported in humans.
Cobalt is used in the manufacture of hard alloys with high melting points and resistance to oxidation. Cobalt salts are also used in the glass and pigment industry. Previously, cobalt salts were sometimes used as foam stabilizers in the brewing industry; this practice was banned due to the cardiovascular diseases it induced. The radioactive isotope of cobalt, (60)Co, is used as a gamma emitter in experimental biology, cancer therapy, and industrial radiography.
Cobalt is not highly toxic, but large doses will produce adverse clinical manifestations. Acute symptoms are pulmonary edema, allergy, nausea, vomiting, hemorrhage, and kidney failure. Chronic symptoms include pulmonary syndrome, skin disorders, and thyroid abnormalities. The inhalation of dust during machining of cobalt alloyed metals can lead to interstitial lung disease. Improperly handled (60)Co can cause radiation poisoning from exposure to gamma radiation.
Urine cobalt concentrations are likely to be increased above the reference value in patients with metallic joint prosthesis. Prosthetic devices produced by Zimmer Company and Johnson and Johnson typically are made of aluminum, vanadium, and titanium. Prosthetic devices produced by DePuy Company, Dow Corning, Howmedica, LCS, PCA, Osteonics, Richards Company, Tricon, and Whiteside typically are made of chromium, cobalt, and molybdenum. This list of products is incomplete, and these products change occasionally; see prosthesis product information for each device for composition details.
Interpretation
Concentrations of 2.0 mcg/specimen or more indicate excess exposure. There are no Occupational Safety and Health Administration blood or urine criteria for occupational exposure to cobalt.
Prosthesis wear is known to result in increased circulating concentration of metal ions. In a patient with a cobalt-based implant, modest increase (2-4 mcg/specimen) in urine cobalt concentration is likely to be associated with a prosthetic device in good condition. Excessive exposure is indicated when urine cobalt concentration is above 5 mcg/specimen, consistent with prosthesis wear. Urine concentrations above 20 mcg/specimen in a patient with a cobalt-based implant suggest significant prosthesis wear. Increased urine trace element concentrations in the absence of corroborating clinical information do not independently predict prosthesis wear or failure.
Cautions
Specimen collection procedures for cobalt require special specimen collection tubes, rigorous attention to ultraclean specimen collection and handling procedures, and analysis in an ultraclean facility. Unless these precautions are taken, elevated urine cobalt results may be an incidental and misleading finding.
Metal-free urine collection procedures must be followed (see Metals Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport).