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Test Code CUT Copper, Liver Tissue


Specimen Required


Supplies: Metal Free Specimen Vial (T173)

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Mayo metal-free specimen vial

Acceptable: Paraffin block, with no more than 1 or 2 cuts previously made

Specimen Volume: 2 mg

Collection Instructions: Two mg of liver tissue is required. This is typically a piece of tissue from a 22-gauge needle biopsy at least 2 cm long. If an 18-gauge needle is used, the tissue must be at least 1 cm in length.

Specimen Stability Information:

Fresh or formalin-fixed liver tissue specimens: Frozen (-30 to -10° C) at least 20 years

Paraffin-embedded (block) liver tissue specimens: Ambient (16 to 24° C) at least 12 1/2 years

Additional Information: Paraffin blocks will be returned 7 days after analysis is complete.


Specimen Minimum Volume

Needle biopsy: See Specimen Required; 2 mm x 2 mm (punch): 0.3 mg by dry weight

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Liver Tissue Refrigerated (preferred)
  Ambient 
  Frozen 

Useful For

Diagnosing Wilson disease and primary biliary cirrhosis using liver tissue specimens

Reject Due To

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

Day(s) Performed

Monday, Thursday

Report Available

3 to 6 days

Reporting Name

Copper, Liver Ts

Reference Values

<50 mcg/g dry weight

Method Name

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

CPT Code Information

82525