Heavy Metals & Exposures
Lead, mercury and other metals, plus markers of nicotine and alcohol exposure.
22 tests explained
Common follow-up tests
- Arsenic, 24-Hour UrineThe total arsenic your body cleared in urine over a full day, a standard way to check for recent arsenic exposure.
- Arsenic, BloodMeasures arsenic in your blood right now. It reflects very recent exposure, because arsenic leaves the blood quickly.
- Arsenic, UrineMeasures how much arsenic is in a single urine sample, a common first test for recent arsenic exposure.
- Arsenic/Creatinine Ratio, UrineArsenic in a single urine sample, divided by creatinine to adjust for how dilute the urine is.
- Cadmium, 24-Hour UrineMeasures the cadmium that left your body in urine over a full day, a main test for long-term exposure to this metal.
- Cadmium, BloodMeasures cadmium, a toxic metal, in whole blood. It mostly reflects recent exposure, and smoking is the most common reason for a higher result.
- Cadmium, UrineMeasures cadmium, a toxic metal, in a urine sample. It mostly reflects how much has built up in the body over years.
- Cadmium/Creatinine Ratio, UrineCadmium in a urine sample divided by the creatinine in the same sample. This evens out how watery the urine is and mainly reflects long-term exposure.
- Cotinine, SerumMeasures cotinine, which your body makes from nicotine. It shows nicotine use or heavy smoke exposure over the last few days.
- Cotinine, UrineMeasures cotinine, which your body makes from nicotine, in urine. It shows nicotine use over the last few days and can count the amount, not just yes or no.
- Cotinine, Urine (Screen)A yes-or-no urine test for cotinine, a product of nicotine. Positive means nicotine exposure above the lab's cutoff in about the last few days.
- Ethanol (Blood Alcohol)Measures how much alcohol (ethanol) is in your blood at the moment of the draw. It is a snapshot of very recent drinking, not a long-term marker.
- Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG), UrineA by-product of alcohol that stays in urine for a day or more after drinking, long after the alcohol itself has left the blood.
- Lead, 24-Hour UrineThe total amount of lead passed in your urine over 24 hours. It is less common than blood lead and is used mostly for follow-up or workplace monitoring.
- Lead, BloodMeasures lead in your blood, the standard test for recent lead exposure. Most people in the US have very low levels.
- Lead, UrineMeasures lead in a single urine sample. It is less common than blood lead and is used mostly for follow-up or workplace monitoring.
- Lead/Creatinine Ratio, UrineLead in a urine sample, shown per gram of creatinine so the result is not thrown off by how dilute your urine is.
- Mercury, 24-Hour UrineTotal mercury passed in urine over 24 hours, mostly from inorganic or elemental mercury such as vapor from spills, fillings or work exposure.
- Mercury, BloodTotal mercury in whole blood, which mostly reflects methylmercury from fish and shellfish and any recent exposure.
- Mercury, UrineMercury in a single urine sample, mostly from inorganic or elemental mercury such as vapor from spills, fillings or work exposure.
- Mercury/Creatinine Ratio, UrineMercury in a urine sample shown per gram of creatinine, so the result is not thrown off by how dilute your urine is.
- PEth 16:0/18:1 (Phosphatidylethanol)A blood marker that forms only when alcohol is in your blood, showing alcohol use over roughly the past two to four weeks.