Heavy Metal Screen

Label Mnemonic:	HMSB
Epic code:	LAB3272
Downtime form:	Doctor/Provider Orders - Pathology Core and Specialty Care Nursery

Commercial Mailout Laboratory
6240-8 RCP
356-8593

Specimen(s):

Whole Blood

Specimen Instructions:

Patient Prep: Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Patients should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, non-essential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of their physician), and avoid shellfish and seafood for 48 to 72 hours.

Collection Medium:

Royal Blue K2 EDTA tube

Minimum:

Preferred Minimum: 7 mL whole blood collected in full Royal Blue top tube
Absolute Minimum: 0.5 mL whole blood

Royal Blue Trace Metal tubes are available from Specimen Control, 6240 RCP.

Rejection Criteria:

Specimens collected in tubes other than Royal Blue (EDTA). Specimens transported in containers other than Royal Blue (EDTA) tube or Trace Element-Free Transport Tube. Heparin anticoagulant. Clotted specimens.

Turn Around Time:

5 days upon receipt at reference laboratory

Reference Range:

Components             Reference Interval
Arsenic, Blood         0.0-12.0 μg/L
Mercury, Whole Blood   0.0-10.0 μg/L
Lead, Blood (Venous)   0.0-4.9 μg/dL

Note: Mercury is volatile; concentration may decrease 
over time. If the specimen is drawn and stored in the appropriate 
container, the arsenic and lead values do not change with time

Comments:

Includes Arsenic, Lead and Mercury.

Mercury is volatile; concentration may decrease over time. If the specimen is drawn and stored in the appropriate container, the arsenic and lead values do not change with time.

Methodology:

Quantitative Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

CPT Code:

82175 Arsenic, 83655 Lead, 83825 Mercury