Aluminium

Specimen

Trace element free tube (sodium heparin)

Units

umol/L

Test Usage

Historically used to monitor dialysis patients using aluminium hydroxide. In the past, aluminium accumulation sometimes led to dementia and osteomalacia but with monitoring this no longer occurs.

Aluminium-containing antacids in non-dialysis patients, aluminium kitchenware, or working with aluminium, do not cause measurable increases in serum aluminium.Some patients with Alzheimer’s disease have increased aluminium deposits in the CNS but serum tests will not detect this.

Availability

Referred test

Assayed By

University Hospital Southampton

Turnaround Time

28 days