Specimen Required

Patient Preparation: High concentrations of gadolinium, iodine, and barium are known to interfere with most metal tests. If gadolinium-, iodine, or barium-containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for 96 hours.

Supplies: Metal Free Specimen Vial (T173)

Collection Container/Tube: Plain, royal blue-top Vacutainer plastic trace element blood collection tube

Submission Container/Tube: 7-mL Mayo metal-free, screw-capped, polypropylene vial

Specimen Volume: 0.3 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Allow the specimen to clot for 30 minutes, and then centrifuge to separate serum from the cellular fraction. Serum must be removed from cellular fraction within 4 hours of collection. Avoid hemolysis.

2. Remove the stopper. Carefully pour specimen into a Mayo metal-free, polypropylene vial, while avoiding transfer of the cellular components of blood. Do not insert a pipet into the serum to accomplish transfer, and do not ream the specimen with a wooden stick to assist with serum transfer.

3. See Metals Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport for complete instructions.