Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Sign In

23079 Thallium,24 Hour, Urine (TLU)

Thallium,24 Hour, Urine (TLU)
Test Code: MISC
Synonyms/Keywords
​Ref Lab Code: 8603, Tl (Thallium)
Useful For
Detecting toxic thallium exposure​
Specimen Requirements
Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)
Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
Urine​ Clean, plastic urine container with no metal cap or glued insert ​10 mL 0.3 mL​
Collection Processing Instructions
1. Collect urine for 24 hours.
2. No preservative.
3. See Metals Analysis-Collection and Transport in Special Instructions for complete instructions.
Trace Metals Analysis - Specimen Collection and Transport
4. Refrigerate specimen within 4 hours of completion of 24-hour collection.
5. Submit specimen in plastic, 10-mL urine tube or a clean, plastic aliquot container with no metal cap or glued insert
Additional Information:
1. 24-Hour volume is required.
2. See Urine Preservatives in Special Instructions for multiple collections.
Urine Preservative Cross-Reference Information
3. 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.
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Urine​ ​Refrigerated (preferred) 28 days
​Ambient ​28 days
​Frozen ​28 days
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
​Mayo Medical Laboratories Tuesday, Friday ​1 day
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)​
Reference Lab
Test Information
Thallium is found in some depilatories and rodenticides. Accidental ingestion may lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and leg pains followed by a severe and sometimes fatal sensorimotor polyneuropathy and renal failure. Alopecia (hair loss) may occur 3 weeks after poisoning. The fatal dose is approximately 1 g.
Reference Range Information
0-17 years:  not established
> or = 18 years:  <2 mcg/24 hour 
Interpretation
Normal daily output is <1 mcg/day.
 
Exposed patients can have urine output >10 mcg/day. The long-term consequences of such an exposure are poor.
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)
Quantity Description Comments
83018
Synonyms/Keywords
​Ref Lab Code: 8603, Tl (Thallium)
Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Description
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)
Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
Urine​ Clean, plastic urine container with no metal cap or glued insert ​10 mL 0.3 mL​
Collection Processing
1. Collect urine for 24 hours.
2. No preservative.
3. See Metals Analysis-Collection and Transport in Special Instructions for complete instructions.
Trace Metals Analysis - Specimen Collection and Transport
4. Refrigerate specimen within 4 hours of completion of 24-hour collection.
5. Submit specimen in plastic, 10-mL urine tube or a clean, plastic aliquot container with no metal cap or glued insert
Additional Information:
1. 24-Hour volume is required.
2. See Urine Preservatives in Special Instructions for multiple collections.
Urine Preservative Cross-Reference Information
3. 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.
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Urine​ ​Refrigerated (preferred) 28 days
​Ambient ​28 days
​Frozen ​28 days
Useful For
Detecting toxic thallium exposure​
Reference Range Information
0-17 years:  not established
> or = 18 years:  <2 mcg/24 hour 
Interpretation
Normal daily output is <1 mcg/day.
 
Exposed patients can have urine output >10 mcg/day. The long-term consequences of such an exposure are poor.
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
​Mayo Medical Laboratories Tuesday, Friday ​1 day
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)​
Reference Lab
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)
Quantity Description Comments
83018
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.