ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

Copper, Liver : 0020694

Mnemonic: CU-LIVER

Methodology: Quantitative Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry
Performed: Mon, Wed, Fri
Reported: 2-6 days
Specimen Required: Collect: Liver tissue obtained with an 18 gauge needle.

Specimen Preparation: Transport at least a 1 cm long specimen. Tissue can be fresh, paraffin-embedded, or dried. Also acceptable: Formalin-fixed. Specimens other than paraffin-embedded should be stored and transported in a metal-free container such as a royal blue (no additive).

Storage/Transport Temperature: Refrigerated.

Unacceptable Conditions: Specimens less than 0.25 mg (dry weight). Paraffin blocks that have been processed with Hollandes or other copper-containing stain.

Stability (collection to initiation of testing): Paraffin block, preserved (formalin), or dried: Ambient: Indefinitely; Refrigerated: Indefinitely; Frozen: Indefinitely
Fresh tissue: Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 1 week; Frozen: Indefinitely
Reference Interval:
15-55 µg/g of tissue.
Interpretive Data: Hepatic copper concentrations approach or exceed 250 µg/g in untreated Wilson disease. Elevated hepatic copper is also seen with chronic biliary obstruction and cholestatic conditions. Results inconsistent with other findings may reflect heterogeneity in hepatic copper distribution.

See Compliance Statement B: www.aruplab.com/CS
CPT Code(s): 82525
Cross References: Cu (Copper, Liver), Hepatic Copper Concentration (Copper, Liver), Quantitative Copper, Tissue (Copper, Liver), Wilson's Disease (Copper, Liver)