Uranium

Hormone/ Element

Report in 12Hrs

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No Fasting Required

Details

Detects uranium exposure.

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Uranium Test Information Guide

Why is it done?
- Detects uranium exposure in blood, urine, or tissue samples to assess potential toxic accumulation from occupational or environmental sources
- Monitors workers in uranium mining, nuclear facilities, weapons manufacturing, and depleted uranium munitions handling for occupational exposure
- Investigates suspected uranium poisoning in patients presenting with symptoms of chemical or radiological toxicity
- Assesses environmental contamination exposure in residents near uranium mining sites or nuclear facilities
- Evaluates kidney function and organ damage as uranium is primarily toxic to the kidneys
- Performed during routine occupational health screening, after accidental exposure incidents, or when investigating unexplained renal dysfunction
Normal Range
- Urine uranium (24-hour collection): Less than 1.0 µg/L (micrograms per liter) or <0.1 µg/mmol creatinine
- Blood uranium: Less than 0.1 µg/L in non-exposed individuals
- Occupational exposure threshold (OSHA): Urine uranium typically <15 µg/L in monitored workers
- Interpretation: Results below normal range indicate no significant uranium exposure. Values at or slightly above normal may reflect background environmental exposure. Levels significantly exceeding reference ranges indicate occupational or accidental exposure requiring investigation and medical follow-up.
- Units of Measurement: Micrograms per liter (µg/L), micrograms per millimole of creatinine (µg/mmol creatinine), or micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL)
Interpretation
- Normal Results (<1.0 µg/L): Indicates no significant uranium exposure or minimal background exposure from natural sources
- Mildly Elevated (1.0-10 µg/L): May indicate occupational exposure in nuclear workers or environmental exposure; requires investigation of exposure source and worker hygiene practices
- Moderately Elevated (10-50 µg/L): Suggests significant occupational exposure; warrants medical evaluation, kidney function testing, and implementation of exposure control measures
- Markedly Elevated (>50 µg/L): Indicates substantial uranium exposure; indicates potential uranium toxicity with risk of renal dysfunction, requires immediate clinical intervention, exposure cessation, and chelation therapy evaluation
- Factors Affecting Results:
- Occupational exposure duration and intensity, use of personal protective equipment, hygiene practices, route of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or skin), renal function status (creatinine clearance affects uranium excretion), hydration status, dietary intake, and time elapsed since exposure
- Clinical Significance: Uranium has both chemical and radiological toxicity. The chemical toxicity is more clinically relevant at typical exposure levels and primarily affects renal tubular function, causing polyuria and proteinuria. Elevated levels correlate with increased risk of acute kidney injury and chronic renal disease.
Associated Organs
- Primary Target Organ - Kidneys: Uranium preferentially accumulates in renal tissue, causing chemical toxicity to proximal tubular cells, leading to tubular dysfunction, proteinuria, glycosuria, and aminoaciduria
- Secondary Organs Affected:
- Bone - Uranium deposits in bone matrix similar to lead, potentially causing skeletal toxicity and altered bone metabolism
- Liver - May accumulate uranium with potential hepatotoxicity and altered hepatic function
- Lungs - Primary route of occupational exposure; uranium particles can cause chronic pulmonary inflammation and potential lung fibrosis
- Diseases and Conditions Associated with Elevated Uranium:
- Acute uranium toxicity with acute kidney injury, oliguria, and electrolyte abnormalities
- Chronic uranium exposure leading to chronic kidney disease, progressive renal insufficiency
- Radiation-induced cancer risk including renal cell carcinoma, lung cancer, and leukemia from alpha particle exposure
- Reproductive and developmental effects from animal studies suggesting potential teratogenicity at high exposure levels
- Immunosuppression and altered immune function reported in animal models
- Potential Complications: Progressive glomerulonephritis, end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis or transplantation, secondary hypertension, anemia, bone disease from chronic renal failure, and increased cardiovascular mortality
Follow-up Tests
- Renal Function Assessment:
- Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) to assess glomerular filtration rate
- Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or calculated creatinine clearance
- Urinalysis including specific gravity, protein, glucose, and microscopy for casts and cells
- 24-hour urine protein to quantify proteinuria
- Urine beta-2 microglobulin as marker of proximal tubular dysfunction
- Imaging Studies:
- Renal ultrasound or CT imaging to assess kidney size, structure, and evidence of chronic kidney disease
- Chest X-ray in suspected inhalation exposure cases to evaluate for pulmonary involvement
- Metabolic Panel:
- Electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate), calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium
- Hematologic Assessment:
- Complete blood count (CBC) to evaluate for anemia and leukopenia
- Other Heavy Metal Testing:
- Lead, arsenic, and other heavy metals if co-exposure is suspected
- Monitoring Frequency: Annually for occupational workers, quarterly or semi-annually if levels are elevated, and following initial exposure incident at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months to track uranium clearance and identify early renal effects
Fasting Required?
- No fasting required for uranium testing. This test does not require fasting status or dietary restrictions prior to collection.
- Special Instructions for Sample Collection:
- For 24-hour urine collection: Begin collection in morning after emptying bladder, collect all urine in sterile, metal-free container for exactly 24 hours, and refrigerate or keep cool during collection period
- For blood uranium testing: Use acid-washed, trace-element-free collection tubes to prevent contamination
- Avoid contamination during collection by using clean, non-metallic equipment
- Medications: No specific medications need to be avoided; however, medications affecting renal function (ACE inhibitors, NSAIDs, diuretics) may be noted in the clinical history as they can affect uranium excretion patterns
- Other Preparation:
- Maintain normal hydration status but avoid excessive water intake that could dilute urine
- Document time of last exposure and any occupational or environmental exposure history
- Remove contaminated clothing if acute exposure suspected before specimen collection

How our test process works!