Test Overview
Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Evaluate lead exposure or toxicity.
<3.5 ug/dL (0-5 years)
<5.0 ug/dL (6 years and above)
Critical value: 70 ug/dL
Values >20 ug/dL are called to the provider
* Reference ranges may change over time. Please refer to the original patient report when evaluating results.
Test Details
4 hours
- Pb
Specimen Requirements
Royal blue top (trace element) tube (EDTA). Gently invert tube several times to avoid clot formation; clotted specimens are unacceptable. Refrigerate intact specimen. Complete the first three sections of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Blood Lead Analysis Form and submit with the specimen. The form can be found at https://mlabs.umich.edu/media/187.
Royal blue top (trace element) tube (EDTA) and lavender top (EDTA) pediatric Microtainer® tube. The preferred specimen type for lead analysis is the royal blue top (trace element) with EDTA for adults and the Becton-Dickinson Purple top Microtainer® tube for pediatrics. Occasionally lavender top EDTA tubes are received from clients with lead requests. These samples will be accepted and ordered in Specimen Processing with an order level comment "@LEAD" that states "Specimen collected in lavender (EDTA) tube. If lead result is > 10ug/dl, suggest repeat using a Royal blue (metal free - EDTA) tube." [rev 9/02; 10/05]
2 mL whole blood
0.5 mL whole blood