ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

Cadmium, Blood : 0099675

Mnemonic: CADMIUM B

Methodology: Quantitative Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry
Performed: Mon-Sat
Reported: 1-3 days
Specimen Required: Patient Prep: Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Patients should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, non-essential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of their physician).

Collect: Royal blue (K2EDTA or Na2EDTA).

Specimen Preparation: Transport 7 mL whole blood in the original collection tube. (Min: 0.5 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature: Room temperature. Also acceptable: Refrigerated.

Unacceptable Conditions: Heparin anticoagulant. Frozen specimens.

Stability (collection to initiation of testing): If the specimen is drawn and stored in the appropriate container, the trace element values do not change with time.
Reference Interval:
0.0-5.0 µg/L
Interpretive Data: Blood cadmium levels can be used to monitor acute toxicity and in combination with cadmium urine and B-2 microglobulin is the preferred method for monitoring occupational exposure. Symptoms associated with cadmium toxicity vary based upon route of exposure and may include tubular proteinuria, fever, headache, dyspnea, chest pain, conjunctivitis, rhinitis, sore throat and cough. Ingestion of cadmium in high concentration may cause vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, cramps, and abdominal pain.
Note: Elevated results from noncertified trace element-free collection tubes may be due to contamination.  Elevated concentrations of trace elements in blood should be confirmed with a second specimen collected in a tube designed for trace element determinations, such as a royal blue Na2EDTA tube.
CPT Code(s): 82300
Cross References: Cd (Cadmium, Blood), CDB (Cadmium, Blood)