What does the Mercury, Urine test measure?

Why is Mercury, Urine measured?

Urinary mercury is assessed in the context of dental amalgam exposure, occupational mercury use (laboratories, chloralkali industry, artisanal gold mining), fish and seafood consumption pattern, and investigation of neurological, renal, immunological, or fatigue symptoms attributed to mercury burden in functional medicine practice. The clinical distinction between inorganic (urinary) and organic methylmercury (whole blood/hair) is critical — elevated urinary mercury with low blood mercury suggests inorganic/elemental exposure, while elevated blood or hair mercury with low urinary mercury suggests organic methylmercury from dietary fish as the primary source.

Reference ranges

Standard reference

<1.0 µg/g creatinine # REVIEWER FLAG: Confirm Mosaic Diagnostics reference range. ACGIH BEI for occupational mercury exposure is 35 µg/g creatinine; population-based reference values from NHANES typically place the 95th percentile at approximately 1–2 µg/g creatinine for non-occupationally exposed adults. Verify Mosaic Diagnostics population reference.

Functional medicine optimal

Undetectable to <0.5 µg/g creatinine (functional medicine minimal-exposure target). # REVIEWER FLAG: Confirm framing — no mainstream clinical optimal below reference range exists.

Units

µg/g creatinine, µg/L

Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay platform. Interpret in context of the issuing laboratory's stated range.