Test Code COS Cobalt, Serum
Additional Codes
Torrance Memorial Laboratories Test Code: 276446666
Reporting Name
Cobalt, SUseful For
Detecting cobalt toxicity
Monitoring metallic prosthetic implant wear
This test is not useful for assessment of vitamin B12 activity.
Method Name
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Performing Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in RochesterSpecimen Type
SerumOrdering Guidance
The US Food and Drug Administration recommended test for monitoring cobalt in patients with metal-on-metal implants is COWB / Cobalt, Blood.
This test should not be ordered to assess vitamin B12 activity. For that assessment see B12 / Vitamin B12 Assay, Serum or ACASM / Pernicious Anemia Cascade, Serum.
Specimen Required
Patient Preparation: High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are known to interfere with most metal tests. If either gadolinium- or iodine-containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for 96 hours.
Supplies: Metal Free Specimen Vial (T173)
Collection Container/Tube: Plain, royal blue-top Vacutainer plastic trace element blood collection tube
Submission Container/Tube: 7-mL Mayo metal-free, screw-capped, polypropylene vial
Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Allow the specimen to clot for 30 minutes; then centrifuge the specimen to separate serum from the cellular fraction.
2. Remove the stopper. Carefully pour specimen into a Mayo metal-free, polypropylene vial, avoiding transfer of the cellular components of blood. Do not insert a pipet into the serum to accomplish transfer, and do not ream the specimen with a wooden stick to assist with serum transfer.
3. See Metals Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport for complete instructions.
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 28 days | METAL FREE |
Ambient | 28 days | METAL FREE | |
Frozen | 28 days | METAL FREE |
Reject Due To
Gross hemolysis | OK |
Gross lipemia | OK |
Gross icterus | OK |
Special Instructions
Reference Values
<1.0 ng/mL
<10.0 ng/mL (Metal-on-metal implant)
Reference values apply to all ages.
The reported unit of measurement for cobalt of ng/mL is equivalent to mcg/L.
Day(s) Performed
Report Available
1 to 4 daysCPT Code Information
83018
LOINC Code Information
Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
COS | Cobalt, S | 5627-5 |
Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
80084 | Cobalt, S | 5627-5 |