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Test ID HMHA Heavy Metals, Hair


Necessary Information


Indicate source of hair (axillary, head, or pubic), if known



Specimen Required


Supplies: Hair and Nails Collection Kit (T565)

Specimen Volume: 0.2 g

Collection Instructions: Prepare and transport specimen per the instructions in kit or see Collecting Hair and Nails for Metals Testing.


Secondary ID

45479

Useful For

Detection of nonacute arsenic, mercury, and lead exposure using hair specimens

Profile Information

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
ASHA Arsenic, Hair Yes Yes
PBHA Lead, Hair Yes Yes
HGHAR Mercury, Hair Yes Yes

Method Name

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Reporting Name

Heavy Metals, Hair

Specimen Type

Hair

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.05 g

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Hair Ambient (preferred)
  Frozen 
  Refrigerated 

Clinical Information

ARSENIC

Arsenic circulating in the blood will bind to protein by formation of a covalent complex with sulfhydryl groups of the amino acid cysteine. Keratin, the major structural protein in hair and nails, contains many cysteine residues and, therefore, is one of the major sites for accumulation of arsenic. Since arsenic has a high affinity for keratin, the concentration of arsenic in hair is higher than in other tissues.

 

Arsenic binds to keratin at the time of exposure, "trapping" the arsenic in hair. Therefore, hair analysis for arsenic is not only used to document that an exposure occurred, but when it occurred. Hair collected from the nape of the neck can be used to document recent exposure. Axillary or pubic hairs are used to document long-term (6 months-1 year) exposure.

 

MERCURY

Once absorbed and circulating, mercury becomes bound to numerous proteins, including keratin. The concentration of mercury in hair correlates with the severity of clinical symptoms. If the hair can be segregated by length, such an exercise can be useful in identifying the time of exposure.

 

LEAD

Hair analysis for lead can be used to corroborate blood analysis or to document past lead exposure. If the hair is collected and segmented in a time sequence (based on length from root), the approximate time of exposure can be assessed.

Reference Values

ARSENIC

0-15 years: Not established

≥16 years: <1.0 mcg/g of hair

 

LEAD

<4.0 mcg/g of hair

Reference values apply to all ages.

 

MERCURY

0-15 years: Not established

≥16 years:<1.0 mcg/g of hair

Cautions

No significant cautionary statements

Day(s) Performed

Tuesday

Report Available

2 to 8 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

82175-ASHA

83655-PBHA

83825-HGHAR

NY State Approved

No