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HelpMayo Test ID COU Cobalt, 24 Hour, Urine
Ordering Guidance
High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are known to interfere with most metals tests. If either gadolinium- or iodine-containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for 96 hours.
Necessary Information
24-Hour volume (in milliliters) is required.
Specimen Required
Supplies: Urine Tubes, 10 mL (T068)
Collection Container/Tube: Clean, plastic urine container with no metal cap or glued insert
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic, 10-mL urine tube or clean, plastic aliquot container with no metal cap or glued insert
Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Collect urine for 24 hours.
2. Refrigerate specimen within 4 hours of completion of 24-hour collection.
3. See Metals Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport for complete instructions.
Additional Information: See Urine Preservatives-Collection and Transportation for 24-Hour Urine Specimens for multiple collections.
Useful For
Detecting cobalt exposure
Monitoring metallic prosthetic implant wear
This test is not useful to assess vitamin B12 activity.
Special Instructions
Method Name
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Reporting Name
Cobalt, 24 Hr, USpecimen Type
UrineSpecimen Minimum Volume
0.3 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urine | Refrigerated (preferred) | 28 days | |
| Ambient | 28 days | ||
| Frozen | 28 days |
Reject Due To
All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.Clinical Information
Cobalt is rare but widely distributed in the environment. It is an essential cofactor in vitamin B12. While cobalt is an essential element, cobalt deficiency has not been reported in humans.
Cobalt is used in the manufacture of hard alloys with high melting points and resistance to oxidation. Cobalt salts are also used in the glass and pigment industry. Previously, cobalt salts were sometimes used as foam stabilizers in the brewing industry; this practice was banned due to the cardiovascular diseases it induced. The radioactive isotope of cobalt, (60)Co, is used as a gamma emitter in experimental biology, cancer therapy, and industrial radiography.
Cobalt is not highly toxic, but large doses will produce adverse clinical manifestations. Acute symptoms are pulmonary edema, allergy, nausea, vomiting, hemorrhage, and kidney failure. Chronic symptoms include pulmonary syndrome, skin disorders, and thyroid abnormalities. The inhalation of dust during machining of cobalt alloyed metals can lead to interstitial lung disease. Improperly handled (60)Co can cause radiation poisoning from exposure to gamma radiation.
Urine cobalt concentrations are likely to be increased above the reference value in patients with metallic joint prosthesis. Prosthetic devices produced by Zimmer Company and Johnson and Johnson typically are made of aluminum, vanadium, and titanium. Prosthetic devices produced by DePuy Company, Dow Corning, Howmedica, LCS, PCA, Osteonics, Richards Company, Tricon, and Whiteside typically are made of chromium, cobalt, and molybdenum. This list of products is incomplete, and these products change occasionally; see prosthesis product information for each device for composition details.
Reference Values
0-17 years: Not established
≥18 years: 0.2-3.5 mcg/24 hours
Interpretation
Concentrations of 2.0 mcg/specimen or more indicate excess exposure. There are no Occupational Safety and Health Administration blood or urine criteria for occupational exposure to cobalt.
Prosthesis wear is known to result in increased circulating concentration of metal ions. In a patient with a cobalt-based implant, modest increase (2-4 mcg/specimen) in urine cobalt concentration is likely to be associated with a prosthetic device in good condition. Excessive exposure is indicated when urine cobalt concentration is above 5 mcg/specimen, consistent with prosthesis wear. Urine concentrations above 20 mcg/specimen in a patient with a cobalt-based implant suggest significant prosthesis wear. Increased urine trace element concentrations in the absence of corroborating clinical information do not independently predict prosthesis wear or failure.
Cautions
Specimen collection procedures for cobalt require special specimen collection tubes, rigorous attention to ultraclean specimen collection and handling procedures, and analysis in an ultraclean facility. Unless these precautions are taken, elevated urine cobalt results may be an incidental and misleading finding.
Metal-free urine collection procedures must be followed (see Metals Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport).
Clinical Reference
1. Keegan GM, Learmonth ID, Case CP. A systematic comparison of the actual, potential, and theoretical health effects of cobalt and chromium from industry and surgical implants. Crit Rev Toxicol. 2008;38(8):645-674
2. Lhotka C, Szekes T, Stefan I, Zhuber K, Zweymuller K. Four-year study of cobalt and chromium blood levels in patients managed with two different metal-on-metal total hip replacements. J Orthop Res. 2003;21(2):189-195
3. Lison D, De Boeck M, Verougstraete V, Kirsch-Volders M. Update on the genotoxicity and carcinogenicity of cobalt compounds. Occup Environ Med. 2001;58(10):619-625
4. Crutsen JRW, Koper MC, Jelsma J, et al: Prosthetic hip-associated cobalt toxicity: a systematic review of case series and case reports. EFORT Open Rev. 2022;7(3):188-199
5. Leyssens L, Vinck B, Van Der Straeten C, Wuyts F, Maes L. Cobalt toxicity in humans-A review of the potential sources and systemic health effects. Toxicology. 2017;387:43-56. doi:10.1016/j.tox.2017.05.015
6. Sodi R. Vitamins and trace elements. Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, eds: Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2023:chap 39
Method Description
The metal of interest is analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.(Unpublished Mayo method)
Day(s) Performed
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
Report Available
1 to 4 daysSpecimen Retention Time
14 daysPerforming Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Test Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
83018
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| COU | Cobalt, 24 Hr, U | 29916-4 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| 80083 | Cobalt, 24 Hr, U | 29916-4 |
| TM75 | Collection Duration | 13362-9 |
| VL64 | Urine Volume | 3167-4 |