ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

Copper, Serum Free (Direct) : 0020596

Mnemonic: COPPER F

Methodology: Quantitative Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry
Performed: Tue, Thu, Sat
Reported: 1-4 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).

Specimen Preparation: Centrifuge. Transfer 2.5 mL serum to an ARUP Trace Element-Free Transport Tube. (Min: 1.5 mL) Do not allow serum to remain on cells.

Storage/Transport Temperature: Frozen.

Unacceptable Conditions: Separator tubes. Specimens that are not separated from the red cells or clot.

Stability (collection to initiation of testing): After separation from cells: Ambient: 8 hours; Refrigerated: 1 week; Frozen: 1 month
Reference Interval:
0.0-10.0 µg/dL
Interpretive Data: Free copper (direct) is determined with serum ultrafiltrate. Results may be elevated in Wilson disease or other conditions of copper overload. Other tests used to diagnosis Wilson disease include serum ceruloplasmin, 24-hour urine copper, and hepatic copper. Slit lamp examination for Kayser-Fleischer rings and genetic testing may also be helpful.

See Compliance Statement B: www.aruplab.com/CS
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: Copper Index (Copper, Serum Free (Direct)), Cu (Copper, Serum Free (Direct)), Cu, Plasma (Copper, Serum Free (Direct)), CuFree (Copper, Serum Free (Direct)), Non-Ceruloplasmin Bound Copper (Copper, Serum Free (Direct)), Unbound Copper (Copper, Serum Free (Direct)), Wilson's Disease (Copper, Serum Free (Direct))