Heavy Metal Blood Test

A heavy metal blood test is a group of tests that measures the levels of possibly harmful metals (like lead or mercury) in your blood. Heavy metals are found naturally in the environment. They're also found in certain medicines, supplements, and foods.

Chemicals used in industry and farming may also contain heavy metals, which can end up in the air, soil, and water. Heavy metals get into your body in different ways. You might breathe them in, eat them, or absorb them through your skin.

Because heavy metals are just about everywhere, it's normal to have some in your body. But if too much heavy metal gets into your body, it can cause heavy metal poisoning, which can be deadly. Heavy metal poisoning can lead to organ damage, changes in your behavior, or difficulties with thinking and memory.

The symptoms of heavy metal poisoning depend on the type of metal, how much is in your body, and your age. The highest risk for serious, long-term health problems from heavy metals is during fetal growth and a child's development. Poisoning from heavy metals can happen slowly over time or suddenly if you are exposed to a large amount of heavy metal all at once.

The most commonly tested heavy metals are: Lead; Mercury; Arsenic; Cadmium; Chromium; Other metals that may be tested include aluminum, beryllium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, platinum, selenium, silicon, silver, and thallium. You may have a heavy metal blood test for one type of metal, or you may have a test for a group of metals, called a 'heavy metal panel.' Depending on what metals your health care provider is checking for, testing can also be done with samples of your urine, fingernails, or hair. But blood and urine are the samples that are most commonly used for heavy metal tests.

Why this test is done

Your provider may order a heavy metal blood test if you had a possible exposure to heavy metal or if you have symptoms of heavy metal poisoning.

Symptoms of heavy metal poisoning depend on the type of metal and how much exposure you had. Your symptoms may include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal (belly) pain
• Diarrhea
• Tingling in the hands and feet
• Shortness of breath
• Chills
• Muscle weakness
• Memory loss or changes in behavior
• Arrhythmia (problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat

If your job involves heavy metals, your employer may require regular testing to help monitor workplace safety.

Children under the age of 6 may need to be tested for lead poisoning if they have a risk of exposure to lead, even when they don't have symptoms. That's because very low levels of lead can damage a child's developing brain and cause long-term growth and learning problems.

Children have a risk of lead exposure if they spend time in homes built before 1978 when lead-based paint was still used. These homes may have lead in household dust from old chipping or peeling paint. Lead from old paint and other old sources may also remain in the soil, especially in older neighborhoods of some cities.

Young children tend to be exposed when they touch surfaces or soil with lead and put their hands in their mouths. Your child's provider may recommend lead testing based on your child's possible exposure to lead and where you live. Some state and local governments require all children to be tested for lead.

How to prepare

Some fish and shellfish contain high levels of mercury, so you should avoid eating seafood for 48 hours before your test.

Sample type

Blood

Other names for this test

heavy metals panel, toxic metals, heavy metal toxicity test