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Test Code Billings Clinic:0338 Mayo:PBDC Lead, Capillary, with Demographics, Blood

Reporting Name

Lead, Capillary, w/Demographics, B

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Useful For

Detecting lead toxicity with capillary collections

Method Name

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)


Ordering Guidance


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends venous collection of samples for lead testing. Capillary lead testing is acceptable for pediatrics and patients with phlebotomy considerations, but capillary blood collection may be more susceptible to contamination. Elevated capillary blood levels must be confirmed with a venous lead blood test. See PBDV / Lead, Venous, with Demographics, Blood.



Specimen Required


Patient Preparation: High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are known to potentially interfere with most inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry-based metal testing. If either gadolinium- or iodine-containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for 96 hours.

Supplies: Microtainer (EDTA) Tube, 0.5 mL (T174)

Collection Container/Tube: BD Microtainer with EDTA

Specimen Volume: 0.4 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. See Metals Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport for complete instructions.

2. Send whole blood specimen in original tube. Do not aliquot.


Specimen Type

Whole blood

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.1 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Whole blood Refrigerated (preferred) 28 days
  Ambient  28 days
  Frozen  28 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus OK
Clotted Blood Reject

Reference Values

<3.5 mcg/dL

Critical values

Pediatrics (≤15 years): ≥20.0 mcg/dL

Adults (≥16 years): ≥70.0 mcg/dL

Interpretation

No safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Lead exposure can affect nearly every system in the body. Because lead exposure often occurs with no obvious symptoms, it frequently goes unrecognized. The current reference level at which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends public health actions be initiated is 3.5 mcg/dL in patients 0 to 5 years old and 5 mcg/dL for patients 6 years and older. The most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data shows that 97.5 percentile for blood lead levels in US adults aged 16 years and older is 3.46 mcg/dL. In concurrence with the reference value concept that there is no safe level of lead in blood, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Occupational Health Subcommittee approved lowering the blood lead threshold from 5 to 3.5 mcg/dL for adults. Chelation therapy is generally indicated in children when whole blood lead concentrations are above 25 mcg/dL.

 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published the following standards for employees working in industry. OSHA Standards for General Industry (CFR 1910.1025) and Construction (CFR 1926.62) apply to workers exposed to airborne lead levels 30 mcg/m(3) or greater time-weighted average and require the removal of workers if a periodic and follow-up blood lead level is 60 mcg/dL (2.9 mcmol/L) or greater, 50 mcg/dL (2.4 mcmol/L) or greater for construction, or the average blood lead level of all tests over a 6-month period (or if there are fewer than 3 tests over a 6-month period, the average of 3 consecutive tests) is 50 mcg/dL (2.4 mcmol/L) or greater. Workers with a single blood lead level meeting the numerical criteria for medical removal must have their blood lead level retested within 2 weeks. If a worker is medically removed, a new blood lead level must be measured monthly during the removal period. Workers are permitted to return to work when their blood lead level is 40 mcg/dL (1.9 mcmol/L) or less. According to OSHA Lead Standards, a zinc protoporphyrin is also required on each occasion a blood lead level measurement is made.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Saturday

Report Available

1 to 2 days

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

83655

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
PBDC Lead, Capillary, w/Demographics, B 10368-9

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
65639 Lead, Capillary, B 10368-9
PTAD7 Patient Street Address 56799-0
PTCI7 Patient City 68997-6
PTST7 Patient State 46499-0
PTZI7 Patient Zip Code 45401-7
PTCN7 Patient County 87721-7
PTPH7 Patient Home Phone 42077-8
PTRA7 Patient Race 32624-9
PTET7 Patient Ethnicity 69490-1
PTOC7 Patient Occupation 11341-5
PTEM7 Patient Employer 80427-8
GDFN7 Guardian First Name 79183-0
GDLN7 Guardian Last Name 79184-8
MDOR7 Health Care Provider Name 52526-1
MDAD7 Health Care Provider Street Address 74221-3
MDCI7 Health Care Provider City 52531-1
MDST7 Health Care Provider State 52532-9
MDZI7 Health Care Provider Zip Code 87720-9
MDPH7 Health Care Provider Phone 68340-9
LABP7 Submitting Laboratory Phone 65651-2

Forms

1. Lead and Heavy Metals Reporting (T491) or Lead and Heavy Metals Reporting-Spanish (T956)

2. If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a General Request (T239) with the specimen.

Profile Information

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
PBBC Lead, Capillary, B No Yes
DEMO7 Patient Demographics No Yes