Specimen Requirements
Title
Copper, Serum
Specimen Requirement
Draw blood in dark blue no additive tube. Spin, separate and send 1.0mL serum in a screw-capped plastic vial. Indicate “serum/dark blue” on transport tube.
Serum cannot be left on the cells in original tube.
Methodology
Stability
Room Temp Unacceptable, Refrigerated 7 days; Frozen 14 days
Reference Range
By Report*
Turnaround
3-5 days
Clinical Use
It is used, along with serum ceruloplasmin and urine copper to test for Wilson disease and more often, in monitoring the nutritional adequacy of parenteral or enteral nutrition, especially when copper deficiency may be suspected because of ongoing gastrointestinal losses of the element
Test Code
COP