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Test ID ASHA Arsenic, Hair

Useful For

Detection of nonacute arsenic exposure

Method Name

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Reporting Name

Arsenic, Hair

Specimen Type

Hair

Container/Tube: Hair and Nails Collection Kit (T565)

Specimen Volume: 0.500 g

Collection Instructions:

1. Prepare and transport specimen per the instructions in the kit or see Collecting Hair and Nails for Metals Testing in Special Instructions.

2. At least 0.500 g of hair is needed for testing. Typically, this is a sample of hair comprised of strands 1-cm long and enough strands to be 0.5 cm in diameter when gathered together.

Additional Information: If known, indicate source of hair (axillary, head, or pubic).

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.1 g

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Hair Ambient (preferred)
  Frozen 
  Refrigerated 

Clinical Information

Arsenic circulating in the blood will bind to protein by formation of a covalent complex with sulfhydryl groups of the amino acid cysteine. Keratin, the major structural protein in hair and nails, contains many cysteine residues and, therefore, is 1 of the major sites for accumulation of arsenic. Since arsenic has a high affinity for keratin, the concentration of arsenic in hair is higher than in other tissues.

 

Arsenic binds to keratin at the time of exposure, "trapping" the arsenic in hair. Therefore, hair analysis for arsenic is not only used to document that an exposure occurred, but when it occurred. Hair collected from the nape of the neck can be used to document recent exposure. Axillary or pubic hair are used to document long-term (6 months-1 year) exposure.

Reference Values

0-15 years: not established

≥16 years: 0.0-0.9 mcg/g of hair

Day(s) Performed

Monday; 3 p.m.

Report Available

2 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Medical Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. This test has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

82175

NY State Approved

Restricted Lab Permit – call Mayo for instructions