The mercury blood test is used to detect an excess of mercury. It is ordered to determine if there has been an acute or chronic exposure to high levels of mercury. Specifically, the mercury blood test detects the level of methyl mercury in the blood. Other types of mercury, including metallic and inorganic mercury, are detectable in the blood. According to the Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the amount of these types present in the blood decreases by half about every three days as mercury moves from organ to organ through the blood.
The mercury blood test is generally ordered when a patient exhibits either acute or chronic symptoms.
Acute symptoms include:
Burning in the mouth and lungs
Coughing and difficulty breathing
Decreased urine volume
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Increased heart rate
Chronic symptoms include:
Problems with hearing, tasting, and smelling
Blurry vision and tunnel vision
Tingling or shaking of the arms or legs
Difficulty walking
LC Sample ReportQD Sample ReportTest Code(s):
085324, 636
Preparation:Patient should avoid seafood and red wine 72 hours prior to collection. For industrial exposure monitoring the collection should be done at the end of the work week or after 4-5 consecutive days of exposure.
Test Results:
2-3 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays
