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HelpTest Code TIS Titanium, Serum
Reporting Name
Titanium, SUseful For
Monitoring metallic prosthetic implant wear
Method Name
Triple-Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Performing Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Specimen Type
SerumSpecimen Required
Patient Preparation: High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are known to interfere with most metal tests. If either gadolinium- or iodine-containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for at least 96 hours.
Supplies:
-Metal Free Specimen Vial (T173)
-Metal Free B-D Tube (No Additive), 6 mL (T184)
Collection Container/Tube: Plain, royal blue-top Vacutainer plastic trace element blood collection tube
Submission Container/Tube: 7-mL Metal-free, screw-capped, polypropylene vial
Specimen Volume: 1.2 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Allow specimen to clot for 30 minutes; then centrifuge the specimen to separate serum from the cellular fraction.
2. Remove the stopper. Carefully pour specimen into a metal-free, polypropylene vial, avoiding transfer of the cellular components of blood. Do not insert a pipet into the serum to accomplish transfer, and do not ream the specimen with a wooden stick to assist with serum transfer.
3. See Metals Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport for complete instructions.
Specimen Minimum Volume
0.4 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 28 days | METAL FREE |
| Frozen | 28 days | METAL FREE | |
| Ambient | 7 days | METAL FREE |
Reject Due To
| Gross hemolysis | OK |
| Gross lipemia | OK |
| Gross icterus | OK |
Special Instructions
Reference Values
<2 ng/mL
Day(s) Performed
Wednesday
CPT Code Information
83018
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| TIS | Titanium, S | 8244-6 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| 89367 | Titanium, S | 8244-6 |
Clinical Information
Titanium is the ninth most abundant element in the earth's crust. Multiple oxidation states between 2+ and 4+ allow formation of a variety of compounds. There is no evidence that titanium is an essential element. Due in part to titanium's oxide formation propensity, the element is considered to be nontoxic. Soils, drinking water, and air all contain trace amounts of titanium. The food processing industry uses large quantities of titanium as a food additive; processed foods contain higher levels than are found in most produce and organic foodstuffs. The average daily oral intake through food consumption is 0.1 to 1 mg/day, which accounts for more than 99% of exposure. Gastrointestinal absorption of titanium is low (approximately 3%), and most of the ingested titanium is rapidly excreted in the urine and stool. The total body burden of titanium is usually in the range of 9 to 15 mg, a significant portion of which is contained in the lungs. Titanium dust entering the respiratory tract is nonirritating and is almost completely non-fibrogenic in humans.
Titanium-containing alloys are used in some artificial joints, prosthetic devices, and implants. Titanium dioxide allows osseointegration between an artificial medical implant and bone. Despite their wide use, to date, exposure to these materials has not been linked to toxicity. In one study, patients monitored up to 36 months following joint replacement with titanium-containing joints showed a statistically significant increase in detectable serum titanium. While titanium concentrations are not a measure of toxicity, they are useful in determining whether implant breakdown is occurring. Serum titanium concentrations are likely to be increased above the reference range in patients with metallic joint prosthesis. Prosthetic devices produced by Zimmer Company and Johnson and Johnson typically are made of aluminum, vanadium, and titanium. This list of products is incomplete, and these products change occasionally; see prosthesis product information for each device for composition details.
Interpretation
Prosthesis wear is known to result in increased circulating concentration of metal ions. In the absence of an implant, circulating titanium is below 1 ng/mL. Modest increase (1.0-3.0 ng/mL) in serum titanium concentration is evident with a prosthetic device in good condition. Serum concentrations above 10 ng/mL in a patient with titanium-based implant suggest prosthesis wear.
Increased serum titanium concentration in the absence of corroborating clinical information does not independently predict prosthesis wear or failure.
Cautions
Titanium is a trace metal commonly used in alloys and readily present in the environment. Thus, contamination of the collection site and of the specimen must be avoided. Failure to use metal-free collection procedures and devices may cause falsely increased results. See Specimen Required for collection and processing information.
Method Description
The metal of interest is analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.(Unpublished Mayo method)