Heavy Metals Lab

Detect exposure to 20 of the most common and lesser known toxic heavy metals.

Discover if heavy metal toxicity is a root cause of illness and disease in this simple test for heavy metals.

The Heavy Metals panel examines heavy metal toxicity to 20 of the most common heavy metals, which can be found in the environment, air, water sources, and common consumer products. Heavy metal toxicity can contribute to total toxic burden and cause inflammatory symptoms including neurological and cognitive (brain) dysfunction, metabolic problems, digestive complaints, impaired detoxification, and more.

The Heavy Metals panel is designed to test for exposure to many different heavy metals found in food, water, and other environmental sources, and which are known to cause inflammatory diseases and conditions in humans. Consider the Heavy Metals panel if you have been exposed to locations or employment conditions with high heavy metal exposure such as, but not limited to, fuels, smelting, munitions, rubber/asphalt, manufacturing, radioactive substances, nuclear industrial byproducts, semiconductor manufacturing, mining, and automobiles. Common symptoms may include upper respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, neurological and mood changes, problems with memory and word recall, insomnia, anxiety, and fatigue.

How To Prepare For This Lab: 

Fasting is not required for the Heavy Metals test.

However, fasting for 12 hours may increase the amount of metals excreted in urine, so consult with your ordering provider about whether they recommend you fast for 12 hours before the test. Avoid foods high in iodine (seafood, dairy, seaweed) and selenium (Brazil nuts) as they have strong binding affinity for heavy metals (they act like "heavy metal magnets"). Consuming these foods prior to the Heavy Metals test may cause falsely lowered results. Some Vibrant America ordering providers may prefer you do a "provoked" Heavy Metal test which requires taking a "provoking agent" (such as NAC, glutathione, DMSA, or EDTA) prior to testing to promote the release of body stores of metals so that the metals are "mobilized" (moved through the body) and excreted (released) in urine.

Vibrant America does not require a provoked test, nor does Vibrant America recommend a specific provoking agent, dose, or timing of provocation before testing. Discuss with your ordering provider whether they recommend a provoked or unprovoked test, and which provoking agent, dose, and timing of provocation and urine collection they recommend for you.

Please note that unprovoked test results cannot predict provoked test results as the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (release) of heavy metals in urine is highly variable in different people and is influenced by a number of physical, dietary, and environmental factors.

Overall, the majority of Vibrant America ordering providers order unprovoked testing. For best test performance, collect the first morning urine upon awakening, prior to eating or drinking.

Urine Sample Required.