Thallium, Blood

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1232220, Beaker: THALLIUM, Quest: 8830

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Royal Blue-top EDTA tube.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Do not centrifuge. Maintain whole blood at refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 4.0 mL whole blood, at refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 2.0 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Centrifuged tubes.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Do not centrifuge. Maintain whole blood refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Transport: 4.0 mL whole blood, at refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 2.0 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 48 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 5 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

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.
Results available within 3-5 days.

Reference Range

<5.1 mcg/L

Test Methodology

Inductively Coupled Plasma / Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS)

Interpretation

By report.

Clinical Utility

Thallium, Blood – Exposure to thallium is primarily through foods and may occur in highly selected industrial environments. Blood thallium may be used in assessing chronic toxicity.

CPT Codes

83018

Contacts

Last Updated

12/17/2025