The Heavy Metals Panel, Blood test contains 1 test with 4 biomarkers.
Description: A heavy metals test is a blood test that measures levels of toxic metals in your blood to check for metal poisoning.
Also Known As: Toxic Metals Test, Heavy Metals Blood Test
Collection Method: Blood Draw
Specimen Type: Whole Blood
Test Preparation: Avoid seafood consumption for 48 hours prior to sample collection
When is a Heavy Metals Panel test ordered?
If a medical professional believes that a patient has been acutely or chronically exposed to one or more heavy metals, a heavy metals panel may be prescribed. Depending on the type and amount of metal involved, the nature and severity of the signs and symptoms of heavy metal exposure will vary; early signs of poisoning can be missed because they are frequently non-specific. Even if a person has no, few, or vague symptoms, excessive exposure can nonetheless cause harm to numerous organs.
Those who might be exposed to metals at work are typically periodically observed. Safety precautions reduce danger to workers and aid in resolving issues when they arise. Several dangerous metals that can be present at work are regulated by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The affected individuals are monitored and action is made to lessen their exposure if excessive quantities are found.
What does a Heavy Metals Panel blood test check for?
A heavy metals panel is a collection of tests that assesses the levels of particular potentially harmful metals in blood, urine, or, less frequently, hair or other body fluids or tissues. A laboratory might offer tests for individual metals as well as various groupings of heavy metals panels. Lead, mercury, and arsenic are the most typical mixture. Other panels might contain one or more other metals, such copper, zinc, or cadmium. In addition to considering the patient's clinical symptoms, a healthcare professional will decide which metals to test for depending on possible exposure.
The definition of "heavy metals" is ambiguous. It refers to a number of elements with high density or metallic qualities and is connected to the periodic table of elements. These substances are naturally present throughout the environment, and businesses employ them to create a variety of everyday goods. Some of them, such as copper, iron, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc, are required in tiny amounts by the body for regular function but can be harmful at higher levels. Any of the heavy metals can irritate or harm the body in high doses, and they can contaminate the soil, air, food, and water as well as linger in the environment for a very long time. The terms "heavy metals" and "toxic metals" are commonly used interchangeably because they are a potential source of harm.
The signs and symptoms that an individual may suffer are influenced by the type of metal, its form, the quantity, the time of exposure, the type of exposure, the individual's age, and the general health of the individual. One form of a metal may be more dangerous than another, such as an organic vs an inorganic metal compound, and some metals are significantly more toxic than others. The amount of metal absorbed and the areas of the body that are impacted can vary depending on how a person is exposed. For instance, a metal may be far more poisonous and cause serious lung damage when its fumes are inhaled than it may be when it is held in the hand or is just moderately dangerous and poorly absorbed when consumed.
Moderate exposure over time should also be evaluated because severe acute exposure can harm you and, in some situations, be fatal. Small amounts of heavy metals can be processed by the body, but moderate to large levels can build up in the kidneys, liver, bones, and brain. Some metals can impair the body's capacity to create red and white blood cells and are thought to be carcinogenic, which increases the risk of developing cancer. Because exposure to low or moderate concentrations can disrupt physical and cognitive development and can irreparably damage the organs and brain, fetuses and young children are most at danger. A significant portion of the metals can be transferred from the mother to the fetus, and some can be transferred to the baby through breast milk.
Lab tests often ordered with a Heavy Metals Panel test:
Conditions where a Heavy Metals Panel test is recommended:
- Lead Poisoning
- Iron Toxicity
- Copper Toxicity
- Mercury Poisoning
How does my health care provider use a Heavy Metals Panel test?
For people who may have been exposed to one or more heavy metals, heavy metal testing is used to check for or diagnose heavy metal toxicity. It is also used to monitor excessive metal concentrations in people who work with different heavy metals. Construction, mining, radiator repair shops, and shooting ranges are a few examples of these professions. Testing is also done to check how well chelation therapy, a method of getting rid of heavy metals from the body, is working.
A series of studies using heavy metal panels is put up to simulate possible metal exposures. One or more distinct categories for either blood or urine may be available in a laboratory. A medical professional will place an order for the metals panel based on the patient's profession, interests, potential exposure, and/or clinical symptoms.
A doctor may prescribe a specific test in place of or in addition to a panel if they have reason to believe that a patient has been exposed to a particular metal, such as lead. When testing for exposure, lead is frequently ordered on its own, especially in youngsters due to their heightened sensitivity to its effects. Some metals can also be measured in bodily tissues, fluid, hair, and nails. These are often purchased separately.
What do my Heavy Metals Panel test results mean?
The evaluation of heavy metals test results must be done with care. A low concentration of a heavy metal in the blood does not always imply that an excessive amount of exposure has not taken place. Heavy metals do not persist in the blood for a long time and do not linger in the urine. For instance, over time, lead is absorbed into the bones when it moves from the blood into the body's organs. Lead may be found in a person's blood, urine, organs, and bones if they were exposed to lead on a regular basis.
Due to their widespread presence in our environment, several heavy metals may be found in extremely low concentrations in the blood and urine of individuals who appear to be in good health. Age-related recommendations for safe levels of heavy metals can change over time as new knowledge regarding their safety becomes available.
Scientists discovered detectable mercury in nearly 8,000 participants in a research done in 2004 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for instance. They came to the conclusion that mercury levels in the blood and urine tend to rise with age. Additionally, they claim that the presence of mercury in detectable amounts in the blood or urine does not necessarily indicate that mercury levels have a negative impact on health. Physicians and public health officials can use reference values from monitoring studies on mercury levels in the body to assess if a patient has been exposed to levels of mercury above those in the general population.
We advise having your results reviewed by a licensed medical healthcare professional for proper interpretation of your results.
