ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

Cobalt, Urine : 0025032

Mnemonic: COBALT U

Methodology: Quantitative Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry
Performed: Wed, Sat
Reported: 1-5 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). High concentrations of iodine may interfere with elemental testing. Abstinence from iodine-containing medications or contrast agents for at least 1 month prior to collecting specimens for elemental testing is recommended.

Collect: 24-hour or random urine collection. Specimen must be collected in a plastic container. ARUP studies indicate that refrigeration of urine alone, during and after collection, preserves specimens adequately, if tested within 14 days of collection.

Specimen Preparation: Transfer an 8 mL aliquot from a well-mixed collection to ARUP Trace Element-Free Transport Tubes (ARUP supply #43116). Available online through eSupply using ARUP Connect™ or contact ARUP Client Services at (800) 522-2787. (Min: 1 mL) Record total volume and collection time interval on transport tube and on test request form.

Storage/Transport Temperature: Refrigerated. Also acceptable: Ambient or frozen.

Unacceptable Conditions: Urine collected within 48 hours after administration of a gadolinium (Gd) containing contrast media (may occur with MRI studies). Acid preserved urine.

Stability (collection to initiation of testing): Ambient: 1 week; Refrigerated: 2 weeks; Frozen: 1 year
Reference Interval:
 
Test Number Components Reference Interval
 Cobalt, Urine - per volume 0.1-2.0 µg/L
 Cobalt, Urine - per 24h 0.1-2.0 µg/d
0020473Creatinine, 24-Hour Urine  
 
Age Male Female
3-8 years 140-700 mg/d 140-700 mg/d
9-12 years 300-1300 mg/d 300-1300 mg/d
13-17 years 500-2300 mg/d 400-1600 mg/d
18-50 years 1000-2500 mg/d 700-1600 mg/d
51-80 years 800-2100 mg/d 500-1400 mg/d
81 years and older 600-2000 mg/d 400-1300 mg/d
 Cobalt, Urine - ratio to CRT No reference interval (µg/g crt)

Interpretive Data: Cobalt urine levels can be used to monitor acute exposure as the reported half-life of cobalt is on the order of several days. Urine cobalt levels generally do not exceed 1.0 µg/L in the general population and are rarely used in the management of chronic exposure. Symptoms associated with cobalt toxicity vary based upon route of exposure and may include cardiomyopathy, allergic dermatitis, pulmonary fibrosis, cough and dyspnea.
CPT Code(s): 83018
Cross References: Co (Cobalt, Urine), Cobalt, 24-Hour Urine (Cobalt, Urine), Cobalt/Creatinine, Random, Urine (Cobalt, Urine), COU (Cobalt, Urine)