Test Details
Methodology
Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) or inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS)
Result Turnaround Time
2 - 4 days
Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.
Use
Monitor exposure to lead
Limitations
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Labcorp. It has not been cleared or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Footnotes
Custom Additional Information
Hematologic consequences ascribed to lead toxicity may be basophilic stippling, mild anemia, and reticulocytosis. Other characteristics of toxicity may include increased urine δ-aminolevulinic acid, increased erythrocyte protoporphyrins, and decreased aminolevulinic acid dehydrase. Lead lines on gums or at the metaphyses of long bones in children may also be present.2 Early symptoms of lead poisoning include anorexia, apathy or irritability, fatigue, and anemia.3 Toxic effects include GI distress, joint pain, colic, headache, stupor, convulsions, and coma.
Lead and organic lead compounds have numerous commercial and industrial applications, including paints, plastics, storage batteries, bearing alloys, insecticides, and ceramics. Exposure may also occur through the inhalation of dust containing lead emitted by automobile exhaust. A common source of lead exposure among children is through the mouthing of inanimate objects, specifically objects with paint and paint chips that contain lead. Acute lead exposure is rare; however, toxicity may occur through acute ingestion of a lead salt or acetate. Blood is the preferred specimen by which the extent of an acute or recent exposure to lead may be measured.
BEI® are reference values intended as guidelines for evaluation of occupational exposure. BEI® represent biological levels of chemicals that correspond to workers with inhalation exposure equivalent to the threshold limit value (TLV®) of the chemicals. TLVs refer to the airborne concentrations of substances and represent conditions under which it is believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed, day after day, without adverse health effects.1
Specimen Requirements
Specimen
Whole blood
Volume
1 mL
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Container
Royal blue-top (EDTA) tube or tan-top lead-free tube; submit original tube.
Collection Instructions
Sampling time is not critical for industrial exposure monitoring. Metals with timing “not critical” have very long elimination half-lives and accumulate in the body over years, some for a lifetime. After a couple of weeks of exposure, specimens can be collected at any time.
Stability Requirements
Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
Room temperature | 14 days |
Refrigerated | 14 days |
Frozen | 14 days |
Freeze/thaw cycles | Stable x3 |
Reference Range
0.0 -3. 4 μg/dL
• Environmental exposure (WHO): <20 μg/dL
• Occupational exposure: BEI® (sampling time is not critical): 30 μg/dL;1 OSHA Lead Standard: 40 μg/dL
Storage Instructions
Maintain specimen at room temperature.
Causes for Rejection
Clotted specimen
LOINC® Map
| Order Code | Order Code Name | Order Loinc | Result Code | Result Code Name | UofM | Result LOINC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 007625 | Lead, Blood (Adult) | 77307-7 | 007631 | Lead, Blood (Adult) | ug/dL | 77307-7 |
| Order Code | 007625 | |||||
| Order Code Name | Lead, Blood (Adult) | |||||
| Order Loinc | 77307-7 | |||||
| Result Code | 007631 | |||||
| Result Code Name | Lead, Blood (Adult) | |||||
| UofM | ug/dL | |||||
| Result LOINC | 77307-7 |