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Mercury, Urine (HG-U)  

 
NPHL has moved to an electronic ordering system, NUlirt, and it is now the preferred method to order all tests. Once ordered, print a "batch list" (see NUlirt Guide).

Forms Required - NUlirt batch list of NPHL Test Request Form (completed in its entirety) must accompany the specimen to include the following information: symptoms and date of onset, pregnancy status, travel and vaccine history. Testing will not be performed without all required information.

Please call NPHL Client Services at 402-559-2440 or toll free at 800-334-0459 for further clarification.

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Test: Mercury, Urine (Hg-U)
  • For emergency Response/Chemical Terrorism only
  • Contact NPHL emergency pager before sending specimen 402-888-5588
 
Method: ICP-MS  
Availability:
  • Emergency response only
  • Reported within 24 hours of receipt
 
Specimen:
  • Urine
 
Collection Device:
  • Standard urine cup
  • Collect random urine as soon as possible after an exposure incident
 
Volume: Optimum: 1 mL  
Storage/Transport:
  • Addition of 10 µg of 200g/L sulfamic acic and 0.01 % Triton® X-100 per 1 mL of urine sample
    • If not possible, laboratory director will be consulted on feasability of testing
  • Freeze immediately after preservative addition
  • Transport on dry ice
  • Keep frozen until analysis
 
Unacceptable:
  • Low volume (<1 mL)
  • Inappropriate storage temperature
  • Damaged collection containers
  • No mercury preservative added
 
Specimen Stability: Up to 2 years at -70ºC  
Reference Interval: Reference ranges for this method have been determined by CDC's Fourth National Report on Exposure to Environmental Chemicals listed below. Evaluations of results for exposure purposes will be done by the CDC in conjunction with NPHL and other state and federal agencies.
Analyte Survey Years Geometric Mean Percentile
50th 75th 95th N
Hg  11-12 0.324 0.32 0.66 1.83 2507
13-14 0.246 0.2 0.47 1.64 2666
 
Comments: Contact NPHL emergency pager before sending specimen 402-888-5588  
Revised: 10/24/2025 
If you have questions about proper specimen collection, please call NPHL Client Services at 402-559-2440 or toll free at 800-334-0459.

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