Screw the lid on securely. Storage Instructions Maintain specimen at room temperature. Patient Preparation Patient must avoid all seafood for 72 hours prior to collection. Seafood consumption 2-3 days prior to specimen collection can markedly elevate levels of total arsenic in urine. This dietary form of arsenic is nontoxic and is comprised primarily of arsenobetaine and arsenocholine.
Inorganic arsenic is used for industrial exposure monitoring.
Additional Information Arsenic poisoning of a chronic nature is often evidenced by cardiovascular abnormalities and neurological disorders. Acute exposures to high concentrations of inorganic arsenic through the inhalation of arsine gas or the ingestion of organic arsenic compounds may precipitate renal failure and death. Generally, inorganic arsenic is associated with industry and has a higher rate of toxicity than does the organic arsenic that is usually associated with dietary intake. 2 Urine offers the better medium for analyzing a chronic or prolonged arsenic exposure. Possible dietary or domestic sources of arsenic should be considered if urine concentrations remain above the norm.