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Heavy Metals Panel (Venous)

Test Summary

Useful in the diagnosis of toxicity due to Arsenic, Lead or Mercury.

Aliases

  • N/A

Specimen Collection

Special Instructions

N/A

Preferred Specimen

4 mL (x2) whole blood collected in an EDTA (royal blue-top) tube.
2 tubes are required, tests are performed at 2 different sites.

Minimum Volume

2 mL

Instructions

Carefully clean skin prior to venipuncture. Avoid worksite collection.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tests performed on a specimen submitted in a non-trace element tube/container (non-acid washed) may not accurately reflect the patient's level. If a non-trace element tube/container is received, it will be accepted for testing. However, elevated results shall be reported with a message that re-submission with a trace element tube/container is recommended.


Patient Preparation

Avoid seafood consumption for 48 hours prior to sample collection

Storage

N/A

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

  • Room temperature: 5 days
  • Refrigerated: 7 days
  • Frozen: Unacceptable

Limitations

Ingestion of seafood within three days of specimen collection can affect results.

Other Acceptable Specimens

Whole blood collected in a sodium heparin (royal blue-top) tube

Unacceptable Specimens

Clotted specimens, EDTA lavender top tube

Order Code

HMBL

EPIC (Premier) Code

LAB233

Includes

Arsenic, Blood
Lead (Venous)
Mercury, Blood

CPT Code

  • 82175
  • 83655
  • 83825

Billing Code

  • 670656
  • 670165
  • 670130

CPT Statement

CPT Statement

Methodology

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

FDA Status

FDA Approved

Physician Attestation of Informed Consent

N/A

Testing Laboratory

Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
14225 Newbrook Drive
Chantilly VA, 20153

Department

Reference Testing

Reference Range

Arsenic, Blood <23 mcg/L
Whole Blood Arsenic level >100 mcg/L is indicative of acute/chronic exposure. Urine is usually the best specimen for the analysis of arsenic in body fluids. Blood levels tend to be low even when urine concentrations are high.

Lead (Venous)
Birth-6 years <3.5 mcg/dL
>6 years <3.5 mcg/dL
Blood lead levels in the range of 5-9 mcg/dL have been associated with adverse health effects in children aged 6 years and younger. Patient management varies by age and CDC Blood Lead Level range. Refer to the CDC website regarding Lead Publications/Case Management for recommended interventions.

Mercury, Blood ≤10 mcg/L

Setup Schedule / Expected Turnaround Time

Daily; Report available: 1 day

Specimen Collection

Special Instructions

N/A

Preferred Specimen

4 mL (x2) whole blood collected in an EDTA (royal blue-top) tube.
2 tubes are required, tests are performed at 2 different sites.

Minimum Volume

2 mL

Instructions

Carefully clean skin prior to venipuncture. Avoid worksite collection.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tests performed on a specimen submitted in a non-trace element tube/container (non-acid washed) may not accurately reflect the patient's level. If a non-trace element tube/container is received, it will be accepted for testing. However, elevated results shall be reported with a message that re-submission with a trace element tube/container is recommended.


Patient Preparation

Avoid seafood consumption for 48 hours prior to sample collection

Storage

N/A

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

  • Room temperature: 5 days
  • Refrigerated: 7 days
  • Frozen: Unacceptable

Limitations

Ingestion of seafood within three days of specimen collection can affect results.

Other Acceptable Specimens

Whole blood collected in a sodium heparin (royal blue-top) tube

Unacceptable Specimens

Clotted specimens, EDTA lavender top tube

Billing

CPT Code

  • 82175
  • 83655
  • 83825

Billing Code

  • 670656
  • 670165
  • 670130

CPT Statement

CPT Statement

Result Information

Methodology

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Testing Laboratory

N/A

Reference Range

Arsenic, Blood <23 mcg/L
Whole Blood Arsenic level >100 mcg/L is indicative of acute/chronic exposure. Urine is usually the best specimen for the analysis of arsenic in body fluids. Blood levels tend to be low even when urine concentrations are high.

Lead (Venous)
Birth-6 years <3.5 mcg/dL
>6 years <3.5 mcg/dL
Blood lead levels in the range of 5-9 mcg/dL have been associated with adverse health effects in children aged 6 years and younger. Patient management varies by age and CDC Blood Lead Level range. Refer to the CDC website regarding Lead Publications/Case Management for recommended interventions.

Mercury, Blood ≤10 mcg/L

Setup Schedule / Expected Turnaround Time

Daily; Report available: 1 day