Heavy Metals Panel (Venous)

Message

This test is currently only available in Bedford CPRS. If you are a BHS provider and wish to see this test offered in BHS CPRS- please contact the BHS Laboratory.

Testing performed at Quest Diagnostics.

Test Code

HEAVY METALS (BLOOD) (Q)

CPT Codes
82175, 83655, 83825

Includes

Arsenic, Blood
Lead (Venous)
Mercury, Blood

Preferred Specimen

4 mL whole blood collected in an EDTA (royal blue-top) tube

Minimum Volume

2 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

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

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.

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

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

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Clotted specimen • EDTA (lavender-top) tube

Methodology
Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS)

Setup Schedule

Set up: Daily; Report available: 1 day

Limitations

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

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

Clinical Significance

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

Last Updated: September 20, 2014

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.