Copper (Cu) in urine (chromatography)
Copper is a vital trace mineral found in many enzymes. It is necessary for the hemoglobin synthesis, redox processes, connective tissue formation, melanin pigment synthesis and nervous system the operation.
Many foods contain copper: nuts, chocolate, mushrooms, grains, some seafood, liver, dried fruits. Copper in small quantities gets into drinking water from copper pipes, copper utensils. This trace element is absorbed in the intestine, then binds to proteins, converted to the non-toxic form and transported to the liver. Copper is accumulated in the liver and, if necessary, delivered to different parts of the body jointly with ceruloplasmin protein. 95% of copper is associated to ceruloplasmin and remaining 5% is associated to albumin in the blood. Only small part of copper is available free in the blood. An excess of a trace element is excreted from the body in the bile and in the urine. Normally, copper in urine is detected in insignificant amounts. Copper deficiency or excess is relatively rare but severe.
Copper deficiency cause the following:
- neutropenia,
- anemia (not corrected with ferrum drugs),
- osteoporosis,
- various damages of bones and joints,
- reduced skin pigmentation,
- neurological symptoms
- cardiological disorders.
Shortage causes:
- small intestine diseases,
- taking medications high in zinc and cadmium (including multivitamins).
High copper value is observed with:
- primary biliary cirrhosis,
- primary sclerosing cholangitis,
- hemochromatosis,
- malignant tumors (including leukemia),
- thyrotoxicosis,
- infections,
- taking contraceptives or estrogens,
- during pregnancy.
Preparation for the test.
- It is recommended to avoid alcohol, spicy and salty foods, foods changing the urine color (beets, carrots). before urine collection
- Avoid taking diuretics (in consultation with the doctor) within 48 hours before urine collection.
- Avoid physical and emotional stress before urine collection.
- Thoroughly wash edea before collecting urine.
- Women are not advised to collect urine during menstruation.
- Infants - thoroughly wash edea before collecting urine, it is advisable to collect urine in urine bags. Urine squeezed out of the diaper cannot be tested.
- Urine shall be collected in the sterile disposable urine container previously purchased at OLYMP CDL or at pharmacies;
- After collecting urine, the container shall be tightly closed with a lid, placed in the clean disposable bag and delivered to the OLYMP CDL PC.