Copper Test

Copper Test

This test checks for elevated levels of copper in your urine. You may consider copper testing if you are concerned about exposure to this essential, yet potentially toxic metal in your home, workplace, or environment. Read more

Test details

Sample type:

Urine

Preparation:

Please be sure to drink plenty of fluids before your urine sample collection. Fasting is not required for this test.

Test type: In Person

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$52.00

+ $6.00 Physician Service Fee

Quantity

About the Test

This copper test helps identify signs of significant copper exposure. Copper is a heavy metal found naturally in air, water, food, and soil. It is an essential mineral that supports multiple bodily functions; therefore, individuals may normally have low levels of copper in their urine. High levels of copper in urine may indicate significant exposure in your home, workplace, or environment. Copper toxicity can result in damage to the eyes, skin, liver, kidneys, and respiratory system.

Note: A copper urine test is less sensitive than a copper blood test. If you are concerned about a copper deficiency or a severe toxic exposure, you should follow up with your healthcare provider to use a blood/serum test where appropriate.

Buy your own copper lab test online with Quest. No doctor’s visit is required – simply purchase a copper toxicity test, visit a nearby Quest location for sample collection, and get fast results.

This copper urine test may be appropriate for those who:

May have been exposed to high levels of copper or live with a family member who was exposed to high levels of copper
Have copper water pipes in their household
Work in agriculture, water treatment, or mining industries
Take copper dietary supplements
Have medical conditions or disorders that affect your liver’s ability to remove excess copper properly (ie, Wilson’s disease, Menkes disease, liver disease, hepatitis, anemia, thyroid issues, rheumatoid arthritis, certain types of cancer)

For those who may be exhibiting any signs and symptoms of copper toxicity, it is important to contact a healthcare provider immediately.

This test measures the levels of copper in urine to monitor exposure to copper. It also measures the levels of urinary creatinine to factor in your hydration level and how it may affect your results at the time of sample collection.

Copper is a heavy metal and essential mineral that supports many bodily functions. It helps break down iron, produce energy, create tissue and blood vessels, and more. Copper can enter the body through food ingestion, where only a small amount is stored, and the rest passes through the liver and is removed in bile and other gastrointestinal fluids. Copper also enters the body through exposure to polluted air and contaminated drinking water. This may occur if your home has copper pipes and acidic water. Excess exposure can be toxic and result in damage to the eyes, skin, liver, kidneys, and respiratory system (ie, copper toxicity).

The liver produces creatine, which the muscles use as an energy source. During normal muscular use, some creatine will be broken down into creatinine by the muscles as a waste product. Creatinine is transported through the bloodstream to the kidneys, where it is filtered and eliminated from the body through urine.

Creatinine level is measured along with copper level to factor in your hydration and how it may affect your results at the time of sample collection.

Copper poisoning can be life-threatening. If you are experiencing symptoms of copper poisoning, contact your healthcare provider or poison control center immediately. Copper exposure in adults may increase the risk of heart and kidney failure, liver disease, and brain damage.

Signs and symptoms of high copper exposure may include the following:

Stomach pain or abdominal cramps
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Blue- or green-colored stool
Dark, sticky stool containing blood
Headache
Dizziness or passing out
Fatigue
Fever or chills
Muscle aches
Extreme thirst
Increased heart rate
Yellowing of eyes and skin (jaundice)
Sudden changes in mood (ie, unusually sad or depressed, overexcited or overwhelmed, anxious, irritable)
Having trouble paying attention

You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a test on questhealth.com. Purchases not permitted in: AK, AZ, HI.

Please be sure to drink plenty of fluids before your urine sample collection. Fasting is not required for this test.

After you provide your specimen, it generally takes a few business days to process and release your test results. However, processing times may vary. Your test results will be available in a clear and easy-to-read report. If your results differ from expected ranges, you may receive an alert call from an independent healthcare coordinator. Independent physicians are available to discuss questions or concerns you may have regarding your results.

How it works

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Complete your test sample collection during your scheduled appointment.

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After you make a purchase, Quest Mobile will contact you to schedule an in-home sample collection appointment.

In-home sample collection

A Quest Mobile phlebotomist will collect your sample and deliver it to Quest Diagnostics.

Get fast results online

Access results online as soon as they’re available. Discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost.

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FAQs

What is copper?

What are the potential sources of copper in my home?

Drinking water can contain high levels of copper if your home has copper pipes and acidic water, which is more likely in newer or recently renovated buildings using copper plumbing. You may also be exposed to copper fumes if you work or live near a site that uses copper in mining, agriculture, or a processing facility.¹

I have a copper IUD (intrauterine device); should I be concerned about copper toxicity?

In non-hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs), a thin copper wire wraps around the body of the IUD to trigger inflammation in the uterus, which kills sperm and eggs.² Studies provide evidence that copper IUDs are not likely to increase the risk of copper toxicity.^3,4 If you are concerned about your IUD, you should follow up with your healthcare provider.

Does Quest offer a test that includes other heavy metals that are commonly evaluated?

Signs and symptoms of different toxic metal poisoning can mimic each other, so they are often tested together, such as lead and iodine. If you are interested in having these other heavy metals tested, the Lead Test and the Iodine Test are available.

Can I use my FSA or HSA funds to purchase tests on questhealth.com?

You may be able to use your FSA or HSA funds to purchase lab tests at questhealth.com. Please review your FSA/HSA plan or check with a tax professional to confirm specific requirements for individual eligibility.

Our references

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. ToxFAQs for Copper. Accessed September 9, 2024. https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/ToxFAQs/ToxFAQsDetails.aspx?faqid=205&toxid=37#bookmark05
Medical News Today. Copper toxicity: Symptoms and treatment. Accessed September 9, 2024. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/copper-toxicity
Krishnamurthy Prema, Baru Anantha Rama Lakshmi, Soma Babu, Serum Copper in Long-Term Users of Copper Intrauterine Devices, Fertility and Sterility, Volume 34, Issue 1, 1980, Pages 32-35, ISSN 0015-0282, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(16)44835-1. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0015028216448351)
The National Institute for Occupational Saftey and Health (NIOSH). Copper. Accessed September 9, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0150.html
Royer A, Sharman T. Copper Toxicity. [Updated 2023 Mar 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557456/
Healthline. What to Know About Copper Toxicity. Accessed September 9, 2024. https://www.healthline.com/health/copper-toxicity
Healthline. Copper Deficiency. Accessed September 9, 2024. https://www.healthline.com/health/copper-deficiency

Tests purchased on questhealth.com are only for individuals who intend to pay directly for testing and do not want to submit a claim for reimbursement under their health insurance.