The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Copper (Tissue)

Copper (Tissue)

Liver tissue copper content is estimated to assist with the diagnosis of Wilson disease. Liver copper is increased in Wilson's disease but this is not a specific finding. Liver copper may also be increased in cholestatic liver diseases e.g. primary biliary cirrhosis.

Tube Please see sample collection protocol.
ID 29936
Availability Weekdays. Contact laboratory if urgent analysis is required.
Additional Information Results must be interpreted in view of the histology report. The tissue copper estimation may be misleading if the biopsy specimen is obtained from an unrepresentative or heavily fibrosed part of the liver.
Turn Around 7 days. Assay takes 3 days to complete.
Send to Specialist Laboratory Medicine,
Block 46,
St James's University Hospital,
Beckett Street,
Leeds
LS9 7TF
Collection Con Please see the Web Page: Toxicology, Trace Metals and Metabolic Biochemistry for the Collection Protocol.
Sample REQ Unfixed needle biopsy or unfixed tissue. Formalin fixed tissue cannot be tested.
Units ug/g dry weight
Telepath CUT1J
ICE Codes LCUT