ARSENIC - urine

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Specimen: Acute poisoning: random urine specimen. Chronic poisoning: 24 hour urine collection with acid preservative. Fish and shellfish must be excluded from the diet for one day and seaweed for three days, as they may contain high levels of non-toxic organic arsenicals.

Method: Atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Reference Interval: <3 µmol/24 hours.

Application: Suspected arsenic poisoning.

Interpretation: >13 mmol/24 hours indicates toxicity.

Reference: Le X-C et al. Clin Chem 1994; 40: 617-624.

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