Test Directory

Monitor patients for prior and ongoing exposure to aluminum. Patients at risk include:

• Infants on parenteral fluids, particularly parenteral nutrition

• Burn patients through administration of intravenous albumin, particularly with coexisting renal failure

• Adult and pediatric patients with chronic renal failure who accumulate aluminum readily from medications and dialysate

• Adult parenteral nutrition patients (less so, recently)

• Patients with industrial exposure

Monitor dialysate and water to prepare dialysate to prevent aluminum toxicity in dialysis patients.

Specimen Type: Serum

Alternate Specimen Type: Plasma

Collection Container: Royal Blue (No Additive)

Alternate Collection Container: Royal Blue (EDTA)

Desired Specimen Volume: 7 mL

1. Collect a royal blue (no additive) tube via venipuncture.

1. Separate serum from cells immediately after collection.
2. Transfer 7 mL of serum to a certified metal free aliquot tube(s).

Transport to the laboratory at room temperature.  

• Royal blue-top tube not used in specimen collection
• Certified metal-free aliquot tube not submitted

See patient report.

Serum levels rise and fall after each dose of aluminum-containing phosphate binder or sucralfate. If renal function is normal, renal clearance of aluminum is prompt, with urine levels rising quickly after a course of aluminum-containing antacid is begun, and with levels persisting elevated for over a week. Urine levels rise after a dose of deferoxamine given for any reason. The degree of rise in serum aluminum after deferoxamine is regarded as reflecting total body aluminum burden.