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Test Code LAB0209765 Cobalt, Serum

Additional Codes

 

Mayo Test ID
COS

 

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Useful For

Detecting cobalt toxicity

 

Monitoring metallic prosthetic implant wear

 

This test is not useful for assessment of vitamin B12 activity.

Method Name

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Reporting Name

Cobalt, S

Specimen Type

Serum


Ordering Guidance


The US Food and Drug Administration recommended test for monitoring cobalt in patients with metal-on-metal implants is COWB / Cobalt, Blood.

 

This test should not be ordered to assess vitamin B12 activity. For that assessment see B12 / Vitamin B12 Assay, Serum or ACASM / Pernicious Anemia Cascade, Serum.



Specimen Required


Patient Preparation: High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are known to interfere with most metal tests. If either gadolinium- or iodine-containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for 96 hours.

Supplies: Metal Free Specimen Vial (T173)

Collection Container/Tube: Plain, royal blue-top Vacutainer plastic trace element blood collection tube

Submission Container/Tube: 7-mL Mayo metal-free, screw-capped, polypropylene vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Allow the specimen to clot for 30 minutes; then centrifuge the specimen to separate serum from the cellular fraction.

2. Remove the stopper. Carefully pour specimen into a Mayo metal-free, polypropylene vial, avoiding transfer of the cellular components of blood. Do not insert a pipet into the serum to accomplish transfer, and do not ream the specimen with a wooden stick to assist with serum transfer.

3. See Metals Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport for complete instructions.


CentraCare Laboratory Services Note:

Aliquot to Mayo metal-free, screw-capped plastic vial within 4 hours of collection.

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.3 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 28 days METAL FREE
  Ambient  28 days METAL FREE
  Frozen  28 days METAL FREE

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus OK

Reference Values

<1.0 ng/mL

<10.0 ng/mL (Metal-on-metal implant)

Reference values apply to all ages.

 

The reported unit of measurement for cobalt of ng/mL is equivalent to mcg/L.

Interpretation

Concentrations greater than or equal to 1.0 ng/mL indicate possible environmental or occupational exposure. Cobalt concentrations associated with toxicity must be interpreted in the context of the source of exposure. If cobalt is ingested, concentrations greater than 5 ng/mL suggest major exposure and likely toxicity. If cobalt exposure is due to orthopedic implant wear, there are no large case number reports associating high circulating serum cobalt with toxicity.

 

There are no Occupational Health and Safety Administration blood or urine criteria for occupational exposure to cobalt.

 

Prosthesis wear is known to result in increased circulating concentration of metal ions. Modest increase (4-10 ng/mL) in serum cobalt concentration is likely to be associated with a prosthetic device in good condition. Serum concentrations above 10 ng/mL in a patient with cobalt-based implant suggest significant prosthesis wear. Increased serum trace element concentrations in the absence of corroborating clinical information do not independently predict prosthesis wear or failure. However, the US Food and Drug Administration recommends testing cobalt in EDTA anticoagulated whole blood in symptomatic patients with metal-on-metal implants.

Day(s) Performed

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday

Report Available

1 to 4 days

Specimen Retention Time

14 days

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

83018

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
COS Cobalt, S 5627-5

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
80084 Cobalt, S 5627-5