Specimen

Blood

Collection Medium:

Minimum:

Preferred Minimum:  2 mL whole blood
Adult/Pediatrics Absolute Minimum:  0.2 mL whole blood
Submission of the minimum volume results in an elevated reporting limit 
and inability to repeat analysis to check results.

Analytic Time:

1 week

Reference Range:

Arsenic (blood):
   Reporting Limit:        10 ng/ml
   Reference Range:  Up to 10 ng/ml
   Physiologic arsenic concentrations in unexposed individuals are
   usually less than 10 ng/ml; however, the total arsenic
   concentration may be markedly increased after dietary consumption
   of seafood.

Lead (blood):
   Reporting Limit:                    1.0 ug/dl
   Normal (unexposed population):
          Children and adults         < 10 ug/dl
   Exposed:
          Children (0-6 years)        > 10 ug/dl
          Adults (occupational exposure)
            OSHA action level           40 ug/dl
            BEI (Biological Exposure    30 ug/dl
              Index) (sampling time not critical)
            BAT (Biological Tolerance   70 ug/dl
              Value) (sampling time not critical)
    Toxic:  Children (0 - 6 years)    > 70 ug/dl
            Adults                    > 80 ug/dl

Mercury (blood): (Mercury measured as total mercury (inorganic, 
organic, and metallic).
    Reporting Limit:                          5 ng/ml
    Reference Range:                   Up to 15 ng/ml
    Normal (unexposed population):  less than 8 ng/ml
    Exposed:
      BEI (Biological Exposure Index):       15 ng/ml
          (total inorganic)  (end of shift, end of workweek)
      BAT (Biological Tolerance Value):      50 ng/ml
          (metallic and inorganic)
      BAT (Biological Tolerance Value):     100 ng/ml
          (organic)

Comments:

Includes Arsenic, Lead and Mercury.

Methodology:

Arsenic:  Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Lead:     Atomic Absorption
Mercury:  Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

CPT Code:

82175 Arsenic, 83655 Lead, 83825 Mercury

See Additional Information:
Commercial (Mailout) Critical Lab Values