Test Catalog

Test Id : HMDB

Heavy Metals Screen with Demographics, Blood

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Detecting exposure to arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury

Profile Information
A profile is a group of laboratory tests that are ordered and performed together under a single Mayo Test ID. Profile information lists the test performed, inclusive of the test fee, when a profile is ordered and includes reporting names and individual availability.

Test Id Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
ASB Arsenic, B Yes Yes
PBHMB Lead, B Yes, (Order PBDV) Yes
CDB Cadmium, B Yes Yes
HG Mercury, B Yes Yes
DEMO6 Patient Demographics No Yes

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

For more information see Porphyria (Acute) Testing Algorithm

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Triple Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS)

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Heavy Metals Scrn with Demographics

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

Arsenic (As)

As (Arsenic)

Cadmium (Cd)

Cd (Cadmium)

Heavy Metals

Heavy Metals Screen, Blood

Hg (Mercury)

Lead (Pb)

Mercury (Hg)

Metals Screen

Pb (Lead)

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

For more information see Porphyria (Acute) Testing Algorithm

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Whole blood

Necessary Information

If not ordering electronically, the Lead and Heavy Metals Reporting (T491) is required. Send with specimen.

ORDER QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question ID Description Answers
VECP6 Venous/Capillary
PTAD6 Patient Street Address
PTCI6 Patient City
PTST6 Patient State
PTZI6 Patient Zip Code
PTCN6 Patient County
PTPH6 Patient Home Phone
PTRA6 Patient Race
PTET6 Patient Ethnicity
PTOC6 Patient Occupation
PTEM6 Patient Employer
GDFN6 Guardian First Name
GDLN6 Guardian Last Name
MDOR6 Health Care Provider Name
MDAD6 Health Care Provider Street Address
MDCI6 Health Care Provider City
MDST6 Health Care Provider State
MDZI6 Health Care Provider Zip Code
MDPH6 Health Care Provider Phone
LABP6 Submitting Laboratory Phone

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Patient Preparation: High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are known to potentially interfere with most inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry-based metal tests. If either gadolinium- or iodine-containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for 96 hours.

Supplies: Metal Free B-D Tube (EDTA), 6 mL (T183)

Container/Tube: Royal blue top (EDTA) plastic trace element blood collection tube

Specimen Volume: Full tube

Collection Instructions:

1. See Metals Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport for complete instructions.

2. Send whole blood specimen in original collection tube. Do not aliquot.

Special Instructions
Library of PDFs including pertinent information and forms related to the test

Forms

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the Testing Laboratory

0.3 mL

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus OK

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Whole blood Refrigerated (preferred) 28 days
Ambient 28 days
Frozen 28 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Detecting exposure to arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

For more information see Porphyria (Acute) Testing Algorithm

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Arsenic:

Arsenic (As) exists in many toxic and nontoxic forms. The toxic forms are the inorganic species As(5+), also denoted as As(V), the more toxic As(3+), also known as As(III), and their partially detoxified metabolites, monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). Detoxification occurs in the liver as As(3+) is oxidized to As(5+) and then methylated to MMA and DMA. As a result of these detoxification steps, As(3+) and As(5+) are found in the urine shortly after ingestion, whereas MMA and DMA are the species that predominate more than 24 hours after ingestion.

 

Blood concentrations of arsenic are elevated for a short time after exposure, after which arsenic rapidly disappears into tissues because if its affinity for tissue proteins. The body treats arsenic like phosphate, incorporating it wherever phosphate would be incorporated. Arsenic "disappears" into the normal body pool of phosphate and is excreted at the same rate as phosphate (excretion half-life of 12 days). The half-life of inorganic arsenic in blood is 4 to 6 hours, and the half-life of the methylated metabolites is 20 to 30 hours. Abnormal blood arsenic concentrations (>12 ng/mL) indicate significant exposure but will only be detected immediately after exposure. Arsenic is not likely to be detected in blood specimens drawn more than 2 days after exposure because it has become integrated into nonvascular tissues. Consequently, blood is not a good specimen to screen for arsenic, although periodic blood levels can be determined to follow the effectiveness of therapy. Urine is the preferred specimen for assessment of arsenic exposure.

 

A wide range of signs and symptoms may be seen in acute arsenic poisoning, including headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypotension, fever, hemolysis, seizures, and mental status changes. Symptoms of chronic poisoning, also called arseniasis, are mostly insidious and nonspecific. The gastrointestinal tract, skin, and central nervous system are usually involved. Nausea, epigastric pain, colic (abdominal pain), diarrhea, and paresthesias of the hands and feet can occur.

 

Lead:

Lead is a heavy metal commonly found in the environment that can be an acute and chronic toxin.

 

Lead was banned from household paints in 1978 but is still found in paint produced for nondomestic use and in artistic pigments. Ceramic products available from noncommercial suppliers (such as local artists) often contain significant amounts of lead that can be leached from the ceramic by weak acids, such as vinegar and fruit juices. Lead is found in dirt from areas adjacent to homes painted with lead-based paints and highways where lead accumulates from use of leaded gasoline. Use of leaded gasoline has diminished significantly since the introduction of nonleaded gasolines, which have been required in personal automobiles since 1972. Lead is found in soil near abandoned industrial sites where lead may have been used. Water transported through lead or lead-soldered pipe will contain some lead with higher concentrations found in water that is weakly acidic. Some foods (for example: moonshine distilled in lead pipes) and some traditional home medicines contain lead.

 

The typical diet in the United States contributes 1 to 3 mcg of lead per day, of which 1% to 10% is absorbed; children may absorb as much as 50% of the dietary intake, and the fraction of lead absorbed is enhanced by nutritional deficiency. The majority of the daily intake is excreted in the stool after direct passage through the gastrointestinal tract. While a significant fraction of the absorbed lead is rapidly incorporated into bone and erythrocytes, lead ultimately distributes among all tissues, with lipid-dense tissues, such as the central nervous system, being particularly sensitive to organic forms of lead. All absorbed lead is ultimately excreted in the bile or urine. Soft-tissue turnover of lead occurs within approximately 120 days.

 

Lead expresses its toxicity by several mechanisms. It avidly inhibits aminolevulinic acid dehydratase and ferrochelatase, 2 of the enzymes that catalyze synthesis of heme; the end result is decreased hemoglobin synthesis resulting in anemia. Lead also is an electrophile that avidly forms covalent bonds with the sulfhydryl group of cysteine in proteins. Thus, proteins in all tissues exposed to lead will have lead bound to them. The most common sites affected are epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract and of the kidney.

 

Avoidance of exposure to lead is the treatment of choice. However, chelation therapy is available to treat severe disease. Oral dimercaprol may be used in the outpatient setting except in the most severe cases.

 

Cadmium:

The toxicity of cadmium resembles the other heavy metals (arsenic, mercury, and lead) in that it attacks the kidney; kidney dysfunction with proteinuria with slow onset (over a period of years) is the typical presentation.

 

Breathing the fumes of cadmium vapors leads to nasal epithelial deterioration and pulmonary congestion resembling chronic emphysema.

 

The most common source of chronic exposure comes from spray painting of organic-based paints without use of a protective breathing apparatus; auto repair mechanics represent a susceptible group for cadmium toxicity. In addition, another common source of cadmium exposure is tobacco smoke.

 

Mercury:

Mercury (Hg) is relatively nontoxic in its elemental form. If Hg(0) is chemically modified to the ionized, inorganic species, Hg(2+), it becomes toxic. Further bioconversion to an alkyl Hg, such as methyl Hg (CH3Hg[+]), yields a species of mercury that is highly selective for lipid-rich tissue such as neurons and is very toxic. The relative order of toxicity is:

 

Least Toxic -- Hg(0) < Hg(2+) << [CH3Hg](+) -- Very Toxic

 

Mercury can be chemically converted from the elemental state to the ionized state. In industry, this is frequently done by exposing Hg(0) to strong oxidizing agents, such as chlorine.

 

Hg(0) can be bioconverted to both Hg(2+) and alkyl Hg by microorganisms that exist in the normal human gut as well as in the bottom sediment of lakes, rivers, and oceans. When Hg(0) enters bottom sediment, it is absorbed by bacteria, fungi, and small microorganisms; they metabolically convert it to Hg(2+), CH3Hg(+), and C2H6Hg. Should these microorganisms be consumed by larger marine animals and fish, the mercury passes up the food chain in the rather toxic form.

 

Mercury expresses its toxicity in 3 ways:

-Hg(2+) is readily absorbed and reacts with sulfhydryl groups of protein, causing a change in the tertiary structure of the protein-a stereoisomeric change-with subsequent loss of the unique activity associated with that protein. Because Hg(2+) becomes concentrated in the kidney during the regular clearance processes, this target organ experiences the greatest toxicity.

-With the tertiary change noted previously, some proteins become immunogenic, eliciting a proliferation of T lymphocytes that generate immunoglobulins to bind the new antigen; collagen tissues are particularly sensitive to this.

-Alkyl Hg species, such as CH3Hg(+), are lipophilic and avidly bind to lipid-rich tissues, such as neurons. Myelin is particularly susceptible to disruption by this mechanism.

 

Members of the public will occasionally become concerned about exposure to mercury from dental amalgams. Restorative dentistry has used a mercury-silver amalgam for approximately 90 years as a filling material. A small amount of mercury (2-20 mcg/day) is released from a dental amalgam when it was mechanically manipulated, such as by chewing. The habit of gum chewing can cause release of mercury from dental amalgams greatly above normal. The normal bacterial microbiota present in the mouth converts a fraction of this to Hg(2+) and CH3Hg(+), which was shown to be incorporated into body tissues. The World Health Organization safety standard for daily exposure to mercury is 45 mcg/day. Thus, if one had no other source of exposure, the amount of mercury released from dental amalgams is not significant.(1) Many foods contain mercury. For example, commercial fish considered safe for consumption contain less than 0.3 mcg/g of mercury, but some game fish contain more than 2.0 mcg/g and, if consumed on a regular basis, contribute to significant body burdens.

 

Therapy is usually monitored by following urine output; therapy may be terminated after urine excretion is below 50 mcg/day.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

ARSENIC

<13 ng/mL

Reference values apply to all ages.

 

LEAD

<3.5 mcg/dL

Critical values

Pediatrics (< or =15 years): > or =20.0 mcg/dL

Adults (> or =16 years): > or =70.0 mcg/dL

 

CADMIUM

<5.0 ng/mL

Reference values apply to all ages.

 

MERCURY

<10 ng/mL

Reference values apply to all ages.

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

Arsenic:

Abnormal blood arsenic concentrations (>12 ng/mL) indicate significant exposure.

 

Absorbed arsenic is rapidly distributed into tissue storage sites with a blood half-life of less than 6 hours. Unless a blood specimen is drawn within 2 days of exposure, arsenic is not likely to be detected in a blood specimen.

 

Lead:

For pediatric patients, there may be an association with blood lead values of 5.0 to 9.9 mcg/dL and adverse health effects. The current reference level at which the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention recommends public health actions be initiated is 3.5 mcg/dL in patients 0 to 5 years old and 5 mcg/dL for patients 6 years and older. The most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data shows that 97.5 percentile for blood lead levels in US adults age 16 years and older is 3.46 mcg/dL. In concurrence with the reference value concept that there is no safe level of lead in blood, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Occupational Health Subcommittee approved lowering the blood lead threshold from 5 to 3.5 mcg/dL for adults. Follow-up testing after 3 to 6 months may be warranted.

 

Chelation therapy is indicated when whole blood lead concentration is greater than 25.0 mcg/dL in children or greater than 45.0 mcg/dL in adults.

 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has published the following standards for employees working in industry:

-Employees with a single whole blood lead result greater than 60.0 mcg/dL must be removed from workplace exposure.

-Employees with whole blood lead levels greater than 50.0 mcg/dL averaged over 3 blood samplings must be removed from workplace exposure.

-An employee may not return to work in a lead exposure environment until their whole blood lead level is less than 40 mcg/dL.

 

New York State has mandated inclusion of the following statement in reports for children under the age of 6 years with blood lead in the range of 5.0 to 9.9 mcg/dL: "Blood lead levels in the range of 5.0-9.9 mcg/dL have been associated with adverse health effects in children aged 6 years and younger."

 

Cadmium:

Normal blood cadmium concentration is less than 5.0 ng/mL, with most results in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 ng/mL.

 

Acute toxicity will be observed when the blood level exceeds 50 ng/mL.

 

Mercury:

The quantity of mercury (Hg) found in blood and urine correlates with degree of toxicity. Hair analysis can be used to document the time of peak exposure if the event was in the past.

 

Normal whole blood mercury concentration is usually less than 10 ng/mL.

 

Individuals who have mild exposure during work, such as dentists, may routinely have whole blood mercury levels up to 15 ng/mL.

 

Significant exposure is indicated when the whole blood mercury concentration is greater than 50 ng/mL if exposure is due to alkyl Hg, or greater than 200 ng/mL if exposure is due to Hg(2+).

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

No significant cautionary statements

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Lee R, Middleton D, Calwell K, et al. A review of events that expose children to elemental mercury in the United States. Environ Health Perspect. 2009;117(6):871-878

2. Hall M, Chen Y, Ahsan H, et al. Blood arsenic as a biomarker of arsenic exposure: results from a prospective study. Toxicology. 2006;225(2-3):225-233

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals. CDC; Updated September 29, 2023. Accessed October 23, 2023. Available at www.cdc.gov/exposurereport

4. de Burbure C, Buchet J-P, Leroyer A, et al. Renal and neurologic effects of cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic in children: evidence of early effects and multiple interactions at environmental exposure levels. Environ Health Perspect. 2006;114(4):584-590

5. Kosnett MJ, Wedeen RP, Rothenberg SJ, et al. Recommendations for medical management of adult lead exposure. Environ Health Perspect. 2007;115(3):463-471

6. Jusko T, Henderson C, Lanphear B, Cory-Slechta DA, Parsons PJ, Canfield RL. Blood lead concentrations <10 mcg/dL and child intelligence at 6 years of age. Environ Health Perspect. 2008;116(2):243-248

7. Moreau T, Lellouch J, Juguet B, Claude JR, Juguet B, Festy B. Blood cadmium levels in a general population with special reference to smoking. Arch Environ Health. 1983;38(3):163-167

8. Bjorkman L, Lundekvam B, Laegreid T, et al. Mercury in human brain, blood, muscle and toenails in relation to exposure: an autopsy study. Environ Health. 2007;6:30

9. deBurbure C, Buchet JP, Leroyer A, et al. Renal and neurologic effects of cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic in children: evidence of early effects and multiple interactions at environmental exposure levels. Environ Health Perspect. 2006;114(4):584-590

10. Strathmann FG, Blum LM: Toxic elements. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham CD, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2023:chap 44

11. CSTE Occupational Subcommittee. Management Guidelines for Blood Lead Levels in Adults. 2021. Accessed October 23, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.cste.org/resource/resmgr/occupationalhealth/publications/ManagementGuidelinesforAdult.pdf

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

The metals of interest are analyzed by triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.(Unpublished Mayo method)

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Monday through Saturday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

1 to 2 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

14 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

82175

82300

83655

83825

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
HMDB Heavy Metals Scrn with Demographics 29588-1
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
32190 Arsenic, B 5583-0
8682 Cadmium, B 5609-3
8618 Mercury, B 5685-3
2588 Lead, B 77307-7
VECP6 Venous/Capillary 31208-2
PTAD6 Patient Street Address 56799-0
PTCI6 Patient City 68997-6
PTST6 Patient State 46499-0
PTZI6 Patient Zip Code 45401-7
PTCN6 Patient County 87721-7
PTPH6 Patient Home Phone 42077-8
PTRA6 Patient Race 32624-9
PTET6 Patient Ethnicity 69490-1
PTOC6 Patient Occupation 11341-5
PTEM6 Patient Employer 80427-8
GDFN6 Guardian First Name 79183-0
GDLN6 Guardian Last Name 79184-8
MDOR6 Health Care Provider Name 52526-1
MDAD6 Health Care Provider Street Address 74221-3
MDCI6 Health Care Provider City 52531-1
MDST6 Health Care Provider State 52532-9
MDZI6 Health Care Provider Zip Code 87720-9
MDPH6 Health Care Provider Phone 68340-9
LABP6 Submitting Laboratory Phone 65651-2

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | PHP Pdf | CMS Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports