Arsenic, Nails (ASNA)

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Marshfield Clinic Public WebSite

Test Code: MISC

Overview
Ordering
Specimen
Performing
Clinical/Interpretive
Contacts
Coding

Synonyms/Keywords

Arsenic (As), As (Arsenic)

Useful For

Detection of nonacute arsenic 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)
Nail	Hair and Nails Collection Kit		0.2 g	0.05 g

Collection Processing Instructions

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

Clippings should be taken from all 10 fingernails or toenails.

Additional Information: If known, indicate source of nails (fingernails or toenails).

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type	Temperature
Nail	Ambient (preferred)
	Frozen
	Refrigerated

Rejection Criteria

All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability

Performing Laboratory Information

Performing Location	Day(s) Test Performed	Report Available	Methodology/Instrumentation
Mayo Clinic Laboratories	Tuesday	2 to 7 days	Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Reference Lab

Mayo Clinic Laboratories

Reference Range Information

0-15 years: not established

> or =16 years: < 1.0 mcg/g of nails

Interpretation

Nails grow at a rate of approximately 0.1 inch/month. Nail keratin synthesized today will grow to the distal end in approximately 6 months. Thus, a nail specimen collected at the distal end represents exposure of 6 months ago.

Nail arsenic above 1.0 mcg/g dry weight may indicate excessive exposure. It is normal for some arsenic to be present in nails, as everybody is exposed to trace amounts of arsenic from the normal diet.

The highest hair or nail arsenic observed at Mayo Clinic was 210 mcg/g dry weight in a case of chronic exposure that was the cause of death.

Outreach CPTs

CPT	Modifier (if needed)	Quantity	Description	Comments
82175

Synonyms/Keywords

Arsenic (As), As (Arsenic)

Ordering Applications

Ordering Application	Description
COM	Misc Test

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)
Nail	Hair and Nails Collection Kit		0.2 g	0.05 g

Collection Processing