Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead in Whole Blood
Clinical Specimen Submission Guidance
Submit all specimens to 50 Orms St, Providence RI 02904. Open Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Chemical Threats Laboratory (401) 222-5606
Cadmium, Mercury and Lead
Cadmium, Mercury or Lead Poisoning
Whole blood is analyzed by ICP/MS
IMMEDIATELY notify the RISHL Chemical Threats Laboratory at (401) 222-5606 for a potential agent of Chemical Terrorism.
PREAUTHORIZATION is required prior to transporting specimens.
Collect 1-2 mL whole blood in plastic vacutainer containing EDTA (lavender top) or heparin (green top).
Vacutainers for trace metal analysis (royal blue top), or certified lead-free (gray or tan top) are also acceptable. Note: these should not be drawn first.
Store specimens at 2-8°C
CLIA regulations require specimens be labeled with at least two patient identifiers. Examples of identifiers are first and last name, date of birth, chart/medical record number. The specimen container must be labeled to match the test requisition or the electronic order.
Rhode Island State Health Laboratories (RISHL) requisition form https://health.ri.gov/forms/LabRequisitionForm.pdf with appropriate Chemical Threats sticker attached.
Cadmium, Mercury and Lead in Whole Blood
PREAUTHORIZATION is required prior to transporting specimens.
Refrigerated: Transport and deliver to the laboratory within 24 hours of collection at 2-8°C in a cooler able to maintain specimen temperature. A plug-in electric cooler is recommended, however, a cooler packed with excess frozen gel packs is acceptable as long as the transport temperature is maintained at 2-8°C.
Specimens must be transported and packaged in accordance with current federal shipping regulations.
The following rejection criteria will be used to ensure accurate specimen information and specimen condition for testing:
- Specimen received outside acceptable transport range
- Demographics different / Unable to read identifiers on specimen
- Two identifiers required on specimen
- Expired / Incorrect collection kit
- Insufficient quantity
- Urine cup received
- No specimen received
- Specimen leaked in transit
- Test not evaluated in adolescents <14
- Specimen too old
<5 µg/ L for cadmium
<10 µg/L for mercury
<5 µg/dL for lead