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Test Category: Specialist Biochemistry

Investigation Name:Cadmium – Urine

Alias or Abbreviation:Urine Cd, urine cadmium to creatinine ratio

Accreditation:UKAS ISO15189:2022 Accredited test: On scope

Intro:

Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential element, acute ingestion of the salts of which causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Occupational exposure to Cd fumes (from welding) can cause acute pulmonary inflammation and may give rise to serious respiratory problems in the long term.
Renal tubular damage may also result from chronic exposure. Cadmium is usually requested for the purpose of occupational monitoring and whole blood is the appropriate first-line test. If blood cadmium is found to be elevated, urine cadmium is useful in assessing kidney cadmium burden.
Blood cadmium concentrations may be 4-5 times higher in smokers, and urine concentrations may also be elevated.

Pathology Laboratory:Trace Metals Laboratory

Requestable Seperately?Yes

Units:nmol/mmol creatinine

Minimum Sample Volume:2 mL urine

Expected Turnaround Time:7 working days.
Urgent analysis where clinically indicated may be arranged directly with the laboratory.

Test Code:UCD

Sample Type:

Spot urine collected into a plain white -top universal container

Complex Reference Range:Non-smoker: less than 1 nmol/mmol creatinine
Smoker: less than 3 nmol/mmol creatinine
Significant occupational exposure: greater than 10 nmol/mmol creatinine

Referred to Another Laboratory?No

Storage Requirements:Store at 4 °C prior to dispatch

Posting Address / Requirements:Ambient temperature, 1st Class Post,
Sandwell Health Campus,
Specialist Chemistry,
Pathology Department,
Lyndon, B71 4HJ

NPEX / PDF Reporting Available:Yes

EQA Scheme:UK NEQAS for Trace Elements

Further information:For occupational monitoring, a spot urine collected end of shift, end of working week is recommended.
We are a designated Supra-Regional Assay Service (SAS) Laboratory for Trace Elements.

Lead Contact Details:Dr Nicola Barlow, Consultant Clinical Scientist,
SAS Director Trace Elements Laboratory
Email:nicola.barlow1@nhs.net

Email Address For Chasing Results:rwh-tr.bcpsspecialistchemistryenquiries@nhs.net

Methodology:Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Site Sample Tested: Sandwell Health Campus

Cost:Please email: bcpspathology.info@nhs.net for further details

Contact Number:Tel: 0121 507 5162