Lab Information Manual

Laboratory:

Clinical Biochemistry (SPECIAL CHEMISTRY)

Test Name:

COPPER - (P)

Test Code: COP

Clinical Information:

Test Indications: This test is used in diagnosis of Wilson disease, Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

Hypercupremia is found in PBC, PSC, hemochromatosis, malignant diseases (including leukemia), thyrotoxicosis, and various infections. Serum copper concentrations are also elevated in patients taking contraceptives or estrogens and during pregnancy. Since the gastrointestinal (GI) tract effectively excludes excess copper, it is the GI tract that is most affected by copper ingestion. Increased serum concentration does not, by itself, indicate copper toxicity.

Testing for copper is available to gastroenterologists, general and bariatric surgeons.

Collection Devices:

Preferred Device:

1 - Royal Blue K2 EDTA Plastic Trace Element Tube(s) 6 mL, NO GEL - Full Tube Collection

Royal Blue K2 EDTA Plastic Trace Element Tube(s) 6 mL, NO GEL - Full Tube Collection
Manufacturer: Becton Dickinson & Company

Catalogue #: 368381

Specimen Required:

Plasma: 1.0 mL

Pediatric Plasma: 0.5 mL

Collection Information: If copper and zinc are ordered together, only one specimen should be collected as these trace elements measured together and one tube would be sufficient.
Special Processing: Separate and aliquot plasma in one of the following tubes for transport:
- Grenier Bio-One Tube vacuette secondary multiplex; 13 x 75 mm with white screw cap (VWR #89423-412)
- Sarstedt Screw cap tube 13 x 75 mm, round base with write screw cap (#60.504.021)
Avoid hemolysis - hemolyzed samples result in falsely elevated results
Specimen Stability:
Ambient: 22 days
Refrigerated: 14 months
Frozen: At least 14 months

Referral:

Plasma: 1.0 mL

Pediatric Plasma: 0.5 mL

Shipping & Storage: Store and ship refrigerated or frozen.
Testing Laboratory (MB): Send specimen to St. Boniface Hospital – Clinical Biochemistry

Requisition:

_SH Biochemical Genetics Laboratory Requisition (R250-10-69)

_SH Biochemistry Hematology Requisition (R250-10-92)

_SH Hospital Biochemistry Hematology Non Winnipeg Brandon (R250-10-91)

_SH Winnipeg Brandon Biochemistry Hematology Requisition (R250-10-94)

_SH Winnipeg Brandon Hospital Biochemistry Hematology Requisition (R250-10-93)

Reference Values:

Gender	Age	Reference Interval
All	0 – 6 months	200-700 µg/L	3.1-11.0 µmol/L
All	7 m – 12 y	800-1900 µg/L	12.6-29.9 µmol/L
Female	≥13 y	800-1550 µg/L	12.6-24.4 µmol/L
Female	Pregnancy at Term	1180-3020 µg/L	18.6-47.6 µmol/L
Male	≥13 y	700-1400 µg/L	11.0-22.0 µmol/L

Copper deficiency in adult is defined at levels <508 µg/L or <8.0 µmol/L
Method of Analysis: ICP-MS/MS at St. Boniface Hospital (Laboratory Developed Test)

Availability:

Within 1 Week