Ordering Recommendation

Useful in the assessment of overload.

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is New York state approved.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation

Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Patients should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, and nonessential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of their physician). Collection from patients receiving iodinated or gadolinium-based contrast media must be avoided for a minimum of 72 hours postexposure. Collection from patients with impaired kidney function should be avoided for a minimum of 14 days postcontrast media exposure.

Collect

24 hour urine. Refrigerate during collection. Specimen must be collected in a plastic container. Also acceptable: Random urine.

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)

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated. Also acceptable: Room temperature or frozen.

Unacceptable Conditions

Specimens collected within 72 hours after administration of iodinated or gadolinium-based contrast media.. Acid preserved urine. Specimens transported in containers other than specified. Specimens contaminated with blood or fecal material.

Remarks

Record total volume and collection time interval on transport tube and on test request form.

Stability

Ambient: 1 week; Refrigerated: 2 weeks; Frozen: 1 year

Methodology

Quantitative Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Performed

Sun-Sat

Reported

1-5 days

Reference Interval

Test Number
Components
Reference Interval
  Copper, Urine - per volume Less than or equal to 3.2 µg/dL
  Copper, Urine - per 24h 3.0-45.0 µg/d
  Creatinine, Urine - per 24h
Age
Male (mg/d)
Female (mg/d)
3-8 years 140-700 140-700
9-12 years 300-1300 300-1300
13-17 years 500-2300 400-1600
18-50 years 1000-2500 700-1600
51-80 years 800-2100 500-1400
81 years and older 600-2000 400-1300

  Copper, Urine - ratio to CRT 10.0-45.0 µg/g CRT

Interpretive Data

Individuals with symptomatic Wilson disease usually excrete more than 100 µg copper per day. Other conditions associated with elevated urine copper include cholestatic liver disease, proteinuria, some medications, and contaminated specimens.
Although random specimens may contain diagnostic information, a 24-hour collection is a more consistent indicator of copper urine.

Per 24h calculations are provided to aid interpretation for collections with a duration of 24 hours and an average daily urine volume. For specimens with notable deviations in collection time or volume, ratios of analytes to a corresponding urine creatinine concentration may assist in result interpretation.

Compliance Category

Laboratory Developed Test (LDT)

Note

High concentrations of iodine or gadolinium may interfere with elemental testing.

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

82525

Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0020100 Copper, Urine - per volume 5632-5
0020101 Copper, Urine - per 24h 5633-3
0020207 Creatinine, Urine - per volume 2161-8
0020208 Creatinine, Urine - per 24h 2162-6
0025064 Copper, Urine - ratio to CRT 13829-7
0097110 Total Volume 19153-6
0097111 Hours Collected 30211-7
* Component test codes cannot be used to order tests. The information provided here is not sufficient for interface builds; for a complete test mix, please click the sidebar link to access the Interface Map.

Aliases

  • 24-hour urine copper
  • Copper/Creatinine Ratio, Urine
  • Cu
  • CUU
  • Normalized Urine Copper
  • Normalized Urine Cu
Copper, Urine