Ordering Recommendation

May be used to monitor short-term chromium exposure

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 non-essential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of their physician). High concentrations of iodine may interfere with elemental testing. Collection of urine specimens from patients receiving iodinated or gadolinium-based contrast media should be avoided for a minimum of 72 hours post-exposure. Collections from patients with impaired kidney function should be avoided for a minimum of 14 days post contrast media exposure.

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)

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated. Also acceptable: Room temperature or frozen.

Unacceptable Conditions

Urine collected within 72 hours after administration of iodinated or gadolinium-based contrast media. Acid preserved urine. Specimens contaminated with blood or fecal material. Specimens transported in non-trace element-free transport tube (with the exception of the original device).

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

Performed

Sun-Sat

Reported

1-5 days

Reference Interval

Test Number
Components
Reference Interval
  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

  Chromium, Urine - per 24h 0.0-2.0 µg/d
  Chromium, Urine - ratio to CRT 0.0-10.0 µg/g CRT
  Chromium, Urine - per volume 0.0-2.0 µg/L

Interpretive Data

Chromium urine levels can be used to monitor short term exposure. The form of chromium greatly influences distribution. Trivalent chromium resides in the plasma and is usually not of clinical importance. Hexavalent chromium is considered highly toxic. Symptoms associated with chromium toxicity vary based upon route of exposure and dose and may include dermatitis, impairment of pulmonary function, gastroenteritis, hepatic necrosis, bleeding, and acute tubular necrosis.

The ACGIH Biological Exposure Index for daily exposure of hexavalent chromium is an increase of 10 µg/gCRT between pre-shift and post-shift urine collections. The ACGIH Biological Exposure Index for long- and short-term hexavalent chromium is an end-of-shift concentration of 30 µg/gCRT at the end of the work week.

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.

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by ARUP Laboratories. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. This test was performed in a CLIA certified laboratory and is intended for clinical purposes.

Compliance Category

Laboratory Developed Test (LDT)

Note

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

82495

Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0020207 Creatinine, Urine - per volume 2161-8
0020208 Creatinine, Urine - per 24h 2162-6
0025101 Chromium, Urine - per 24h 5624-2
0025102 Chromium, Urine - ratio to CRT 29919-8
0097110 Total Volume 19153-6
0097111 Hours Collected 30211-7
0099463 Chromium, Urine - per volume 21201-9
* 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

  • Cr
  • CRU
  • Urine chromium concentration
Chromium, Urine