ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

Aluminum, Serum : 0099266

Mnemonic: AL S

Methodology: Quantitative Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry
Performed: Mon-Fri
Reported: 1-4 days
Specimen Required: Patient Prep: Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Patient 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 additives) 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. 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:
0-15 µg/L 
Interpretive Data: Serum aluminum greater than 50 µg/L is consistent with overload and may correlate with toxicity.
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): 82108
Cross References: AL (Aluminum, Serum), Al, Plasma (Aluminum, Serum)