Heavy Metals Panel, Venous

Heavy Metals Screen with Demographics, Blood

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1232022, Beaker: HEAVY METALS, Quest: 7655

NOTE: This panel does not include Cadmium. Previous panel did. If Cadmium testing is needed, please order: Cadmium, Blood LAB123150

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

• This panel includes: Arsenic, Lead, and Mercury.

• Avoid seafood consumption for 48 hours prior to sample collection.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Royal Blue-top EDTA tube.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Do not centrifuge. Maintain whole blood in original tube at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F).

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 4.0 mL serum, room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F). 

Rejection Criteria

• Clotted specimens.
• EDTA (Lavender-top) tube.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Do not centrifuge. Maintain whole blood in original tube at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F).

Transport: 4.0 mL serum, room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F). 

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 5 days
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Quest Diagnostics, Wood Dale, IL.

Performed

Information not available.

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)

<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

Test Methodology

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

Clinical Utility

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

CPT Codes

82175 (Arsenic), 83655 (Lead), 83825 (Mercury).

Contacts

Last Updated

12/19/2025