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.
CPT Code(s): 82525
Cross References: Cu (Copper, Liver), Hepatic Copper Concentration (Copper, Liver), Quantitative Copper, Tissue (Copper, Liver), Wilson's Disease (Copper, Liver)
 
 

 

 

 
All ARUP Sites:        www.aruplab.com     ·     www.arupconsult.com     ·     www.arup.utah.edu     ·     www.childx.org     ·     www.utahblood.org