Ordering Recommendation

Useful as a biomarker of acute thallium exposure. For the assessment of chronic exposure, consider Thallium, Urine (0025019).

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is New York state approved.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation

Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Patients should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, and non-essential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of their physician).

Collect

Royal blue (K2EDTA) or Royal blue (NaHep).

Specimen Preparation

Transport 6 mL whole blood in the original collection tube. (Min: 0.5 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature

Room temperature. Also acceptable: Refrigerated.

Unacceptable Conditions

Specimens collected in tubes other than Royal blue (K2EDTA) or Royal blue (NaHep).

Specimens transported in containers other than a Royal blue (K2EDTA) or Royal blue (NaHep) tube or Trace Element-Free Transport Tube. Heparin anticoagulant. Clotted specimens.

Remarks
Stability

Ambient: Indefinitely; Refrigerated: Indefinitely; Frozen: Unacceptable

Methodology

Quantitative Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Performed

Sun-Sat

Reported

1-3 days

Reference Interval

Less than or equal to 2.0 µg/L

Interpretive Data

Elevated results may be due to skin or collection-related contamination, including the use of a noncertified metal-free collection/transport tube. If contamination concerns exist due to elevated levels of blood thallium, confirmation with a second specimen collected in a certified metal-free tube is recommended.

Blood thallium levels reflect recent exposure as thallium has a biological half-life of approximately 2 to 4 days. Blood levels greater than 100 µg/L are considered toxic and greater than 300 µg/L indicate severe ingestion. After severe thallium poisonings, reported symptoms have varying times of onset and include gastroenteritis, multi-organ failure and neurologic injury. Peripheral neuropathy and alopecia are well-documented effects of acute and chronic exposure. Human health effects from low-level thallium exposure are unknown.

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by ARUP Laboratories. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. This test was performed in a CLIA certified laboratory and is intended for clinical purposes.

Compliance Category

Laboratory Developed Test (LDT)

Note

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

83018

Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0099610 Thallium, Blood 5743-0
* Component test codes cannot be used to order tests. The information provided here is not sufficient for interface builds; for a complete test mix, please click the sidebar link to access the Interface Map.

Aliases

  • Tl
  • TLB
  • WB thallium
Thallium, Whole Blood