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We want your time with us to be as positive and comfortable as possible. Our vision is to ensure every patient or consumer receives the right treatment at the right time in a safe environment.

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We deliver more than 50 healthcare services in the community and in people's homes, across Melbourne and regional Victoria.

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At the Royal Melbourne Hospital, we offer a range of services and clinics for our patients and consumers. We support people staying in hospital, as well as people coming in for treatment or being treated in the community.

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As a large public hospital and healthcare provider, we work with health professionals statewide to help deliver patient care. Our career and training opportunities for healthcare workers promote professional development and improve patient outcomes.

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There's a range of clinical learning opportunities at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH).

Our GP Liaison team helps GPs and other health professionals to navigate and refer patients to services at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH). We work to improve communication between the hospital and primary care

Pathology Handbook

The RMH Pathology Handbook is a reference guide to help clinicians select tests and collect the correct specimen.

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Mercury (whole blood)

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Pseudonyms

MERC

Collection Requirements

6 ml Trace Metal Tube

Tube Colour

Royal Blue

Test image(s)

Requires own tube?

Yes

Department

Biochemistry

Reference Interval

See report

Availability

Monthly

Reference Laboratory

Alfred Pathology Services, 55 Commercial Road, Prahan 3181. tel 03 9076 3888

Fee

Medicare rebatable Item 66825 (Up to 3 tests of any trace element in this category in a 6 month period)

Notes

Blood mercury should only be measured if an acute exposure has occurred within the last three to 20 days (1). For chronic exposure Urine Mercury is preferred. Individuals who have mild exposure at work, such as dentists, may routinely have whole blood mercury levels up to 75 nmol/L. For occupational exposure the total inorganic mercury in blood at the end of the shift at end of work week should be less than 75 nmol/L (1). Eating seafood may interfere with the blood test results. 1. Safe Work Australia. Mercury. In: Hazardous chemicals requiring health monitoring [Internet]. Safe Work Australia. 2013. [cited 2016 Aug 25]. pp 121-130. Available from http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/about/Publications/Documents/765/Harzardous-checmicals-requiring-health-monitoring.pdf Blood mercury performed by Alfred Pathology.

Test code: MERC

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