Lead (ICP/MS)

Measurement of lead by inductively-coupled plasma/mass spectrometry. A tissue/feed prep fee will be added to tissue and feed specimens. 

One or more of the following: 

• 0.50 mL EDTA whole blood or heparinized blood
• 5 g fresh liver
• 50 mg fresh liver biopsy (at least 3 Tru-Cut samples, no fluid added)
• 500 g feed
• 5 mL water

For birds, 0.30 mL EDTA whole blood is adequate. 

If both zinc and lead are requested, the minimum sample is 0.60 mL EDTA whole blood or heparinized blood. 

For bovine, 5 g kidney is preferred.

Do not submit tissues in formalin or saline. 

For feedstuff, submit a representative sample of the entire ration. 

Do not centrifuge EDTA whole blood samples.

• Tissue or feed: sealed, leak-proof plastic bag or container. A tissue/feed prep fee will be added to tissue and feed specimens. 
• Blood: EDTA (purple top) or heparinized (green top) tube. If zinc toxicity is suspected, use a plastic tube or royal blue top trace mineral tubes. If vitamin testing is also desired, wrap tubes in foil or other light-protective material. 
• Water: glass or plastic tube.

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 and feed samples are extracted on Tuesdays and Thursdays. A tissue/feed prep fee will be added to tissue and feed specimens. 
 
Turnaround time may vary on large submissions (e.g., 5 or more feed/tissue samples; 10 or more whole blood samples).