ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

Copper, Serum : 0020096

Mnemonic: COPPER

Methodology: Quantitative Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry
Performed: Sun-Sat
Reported: 1-2 days
Specimen Required: Patient Prep: Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Patients should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, and non-essential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of their physician).

Collect: Royal blue (no additive) or Royal blue (EDTA)

Specimen Preparation: Centrifuge; do not allow serum or plasma to remain on cells. Transfer 2 mL serum or plasma to an ARUP Trace Element-Free Transport Tube (ARUP supply #43116). Available online through eSupply using ARUP Connect™ or contact ARUP Client Services at (800) 522-2787. (Min: 0.5 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature: Room temperature. Also acceptable: Refrigerated or frozen.

Unacceptable Conditions: Separator tubes and specimens that are not separated from the red cells or clot within 6 hours.

Stability (collection to initiation of testing): If the specimen is drawn and stored in the appropriate container, the trace element values do not change with time.
Reference Interval:
Effective November 14, 2011
 
Age Male Female
0-10 years 75-153 µg/dL 75-153 µg/dL
11 years-12 years 64-132 µg/dL 64-132 µg/dL
13 years-18 years 57-129 µg/dL 57-129 µg/dL
19 years and older 70-140 µg/dL 80-155 µg/dL

Interpretive Data: Serum copper may be elevated with infection, inflammation, stress, and copper supplementation. In females, elevated copper may also be caused by oral contraceptives and pregnancy (concentrations may be elevated up to 3 times normal during the third trimester).

Serum copper may be reduced by use of corticosteroids and zinc and by malnutrition or malabsorption.
Note: Elevated results from noncertified trace element-free tubes may be due to contamination.  Elevated concentrations of trace elements in serum should be confirmed with a second specimen collected in a trace element-free tube, such as royal blue sterile tube (no additive).
CPT Code(s): 82525
Cross References: Cu (Copper, Serum), Cu, Plasma (Copper, Serum), CUS (Copper, Serum)