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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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HEAVY METALS PANEL, VENOUS

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB3741    Geisinger Epic ID:  140944

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Whole blood


Preferred collection container: 
Specimen required: 

4 mL of whole blood; minimum 2 mL.


Special notes: 

Carefully clean skin prior to venipuncture. Collect one full 6 mL EDTA (dark-blue-top) tube. Lavender-top tube (EDTA) unacceptable.



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Processing instructions: 

Send whole blood. Do not centrifuge. Do not aliquot specimens.


Transport temperature: 

Refrigerated.


Specimen stability: 

Room temperature: 5 days. Refrigerated: 7 days. Frozen: Unacceptable.


Rejection criteria: 

EDTA (lavender-top) tube unacceptable. Stability limits exceeded. Clotted specimens. Specimen shipped frozen.



TEST DETAILS
CPT code(s):  82175, 83655, 83825
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding.  Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed.
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.

Test includes: 

Lead, blood; Mercury, blood; and Arsenic, blood.


Methodology: 
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry
Synonyms: 

Quest test code 7655


Clinical significance: 

Useful in the diagnosis of toxicity due to arsenic, lead or mercury.


Review Date:  11/11/2024

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