Heavy Metal Panel – Mammalian (ICP/MS)

Measurement of heavy metals by inductively-coupled plasma/mass spectrometry. Targets for mammalian species include lead, arsenic, cadmium, and thallium.  If zinc testing is desired, please see Metal & Mineral Panel. A tissue prep fee will be added to tissue specimens. 

One or more of the following: 

• 1 mL EDTA whole blood
• 5 g fresh liver
• 50 mg fresh liver biopsy (approx. 3 Tru-Cut samples

Do not submit tissues in formalin or saline.  Do not centrifuge whole blood samples. 

• Tissue: sealed, leak-proof plastic bag or container. A tissue prep fee will be added to tissue specimens. 
• Blood: EDTA (purple top) tube is preferred; heparin (green top) is acceptable. Do not centrifuge. 

Label all samples. Ship overnight on cold packs.

The testing schedule reflects days that extractions are initiated. Samples must be received in the testing section by 3:30 pm the day prior to the scheduled test day, otherwise samples will be held until the next scheduled test day. Turnaround time represents the estimated number of business days needed for complete extraction, sample preparation, instrument analysis, quality review, and data interpretation. 

Blood samples are extracted on Mondays and Wednesdays. Tissue samples are extracted  on Tuesdays and Thursdays. A tissue prep fee will be added to tissue specimens. 

Turnaround time may vary on large submissions (e.g., 5 or more feed/tissue samples; 10 or more whole blood samples).