Serum

Preferred Minimum: 2.0 mL serum from Red top tube (no additive)
Absolute minimum: 0.5 mL serum from Red top tube (no additive)

Separator tubes. Specimens that are not separated from the red cells or clot within SIX hours.

1-4 days upon receipt at reference laboratory

Less than or equal to 5.0 μg/L

Serum chromium is the preferred specimen type for evaluating metal ion release from metal-on-metal joint arthroplasty. Serum chromium levels may be increased in asymptomatic patients with metal-on-metal prosthetics and should be considered in the context of the overall clinical scenario. 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; however, chromium serum levels should not be used to assess toxic exposures to hexavalent chromium as it is predominately taken up and retained by red blood cells. Symptoms associated with chromium toxicity vary based on route of exposure and dose, and may include dermatitis, impairment of pulmonary function, gastroenteritis, hepatic necrosis, bleeding, and acute tubular necrosis.

Royal Blue trace metal tube available from Specimen Control, 6240 RCP.

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).

Quantitative Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

82495