Heavy Metals Panel, Capillary

Test Code

39128

CPT Codes
82175, 83655, 83825

Includes

Arsenic, Blood
Lead, Capillary
Mercury, Blood

Preferred Specimen

2 mL capillary blood collected in each of four separate EDTA (lavender-top) tubes

Patient Preparation
Avoid seafood consumption for 48 hours prior to sample collection

Minimum Volume

2 mL

Instructions

Carefully clean skin prior to venipuncture. Avoid worksite collection.

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

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

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

Clotted specimen

Methodology
Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS) or Atomic Spectroscopy (AS)

Setup Schedule

Monday-Saturday Morning Report available: Next Day

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, Capillary

Birth-6 years	<3.5 mcg/dL
>6 years	<3.5 mcg/dL

Blood lead levels in the range of 3.5-9 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.

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.