Heavy Metals Panel (Venous)

Test Code

HM3

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.

Clinical Significance

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

Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
14225 Newbrook Drive
Chantilly, VA 20153

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.