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Lead, Whole Blood (Referred Out) - Saskatoon

Discipline

Biochemistry

Overview

Description

  • Determining blood lead levels is the most common method for confirming lead exposure.
  • Please specify specimen type on requisition.

Specimen Information

Specimen types accepted

  • Whole blood

Specimen collection container

Collection procedure

  • Do not open tube or separate plasma
     

Required volume

  • Optimal volume: 6 mL full collection tube
     

Rejection criteria

Performance

Days/times performed

Availability
  • Shipped daily Monday to Sunday
Testing site
  • Referred out by St. Paul’s Hospital Laboratory to Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory

Maximum laboratory time

  • 7 – 10 day turnaround time by testing laboratory

Other information

Reflex testing
  • Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, Nickel and Thallium are performed simultaneously on all specimens
Additional comments
  • Avoid mineral supplements for 5 days prior to collection
  • High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are known to interfere with most metal tests.
  • Elevated results may be due to collection-related contamination, e.g. use of a noncertified lead free tube; Recommend to confirm abnormal results with a second specimen collected in a lead-free tube.

Last Updated: October 15, 2024