Lead, Urine

Diagnostic Use

Lead is excreted via the kidneys and the faeces. Measurement of urine lead is used most commonly to follow lead excretion of patients on chelation therapy for lead poisoning.

Urine lead is also measured to indicate exposure to tetra-alkyl (organic) lead which was used up until October 1996 as an antiknock agent in petrol. Excessive exposure to petrol is unlikely to lead to high urine lead levels.

Department

Lipids/Trace Metals

Delphic Registration Code

UPB

Laboratory Handling

Registration

Send to trace metals if ambient. Send to trace metals if frozen.

Separating

Make aliquot for UCRN. Send primary sample to trace metals.

Turnaround Time

7 days

Test Code

4222

Specimen Type

• Urine

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Acceptable

• Pottle
• Acid Washed 24hr Urine Container

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

6

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

1

No of Samples Required

1

Additional Specimen Information

Laboratory collection protocol
Urine sample collection for Chelation treatment
Timed urine collection into acid washed bottle

Aliquot Instructions

Sample Type

• Urine

Minimum Volume (ml)

5

Transport to Lab

Ambient (8 - 24 degrees Celsius)

Interpretation

Timed urine collection into acid washed bottle post chelation therapy.

Random urine specimen acceptable for non-chelation therapy analysis

Reference Intervals

Reference Range <0.72 umol/24hrs

Random sample 0-0.02 umoL/L

Lead/creatinine ratio 0-0.010 umoL/mmoL

Test Method

ICP-MS

Non-Funded Test Cost

$39.94 (Exclusive of GST)

Billing Code

4222

Additional Costing Information

Acid washed urine collection bottles available from laboratory. Test normally used prior and during chelation covering 5 days.

Resources

• 24 hour urine collection

Contact Information

Enquiry Form