Minerals and Toxic Metals
At Biolab we can measure up to 18 different trace and toxic metals in hair, sweat, serum, whole blood, red and white blood cells and urine. The table below indicates the most suitable samples for individual elements. Please note that patients must attend the laboratory for the Sweat Mineral analysis and wherever possible serum samples should be separated before being posted.
Which samples are best?
The following table indicates the most suitable sample to use for individual trace and toxic element levels.
| Element: | Sample: |
| Magnesium | White blood cells, red blood cells or sweat (also see other magnesium tests) |
| Zinc | White cells, sweat or hair (also see zinc challenge tests) |
| Copper | Serum or sweat (also see functional superoxide dismutase and copper response test) |
| Iron | Serum (also see TIBC) |
| Chromium | Serum or sweat (also see HbA1) |
| Manganese | Serum or sweat |
| Selenium | Red blood cells (also see glutathione peroxidase) |
| Molybdenum | see Urinary Sulphites |
| Lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic | Blood, urine, sweat (not As) or hair (also see mercury tests) |
| Nickel | Serum for MI or sweat |
For mercury see Mercury/Metals sensitivity screen (also for nickel)
Toxic metals (see also hair and sweat metal profiles - above)
The following Biolab publications demonstrate correlations between different samples:
Age-related decreases in Chromium Levels in 51,665 Hair, Sweat and Serum Samples from 40,872 Patients - Implications for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Type II Diabetes Mellitus. Davies S, McLaren Howard J, Hunnisett A, Howard M. Metabolism, Vol 46, No 5 (May), 1997: 469-473. Abstract
Serum, Leucocyte, Sweat and Hair Zinc Levels - a correlational Study. Howard JMH. J.Nutr.Med. 1990;1:119-126 Abstract
Zinc Deficiency in Children with Dyslexia: Concentrations of Zinc and other Minerals in Sweat and Hair. Grant ECG, Howard JMH, Davies S, Chasty H, Hornsby B, Galbraith J. Brit.Med.J. 1988;296:607609 Abstract
Effects of Oral Zinc Supplements on Serum, Hair and Sweat Zinc Levels in 7 Subjects Davies S. Sci. Tot. Env.1985;42:4548. Abstract
Sweat lead levels in persons with high blood lead levels: lead in sweat of lead workers in the tropics. Omokhodion FO, Howard JM. Sci. Tot. Env. 1991; 1O3:123128. Abstract
Full Trace and Toxic Mineral Profile
Hair, sweat and serum minerals with RBC Mg and blood toxic elements (see below for further details).
[Patient must attend the laboratory, no supplements on day of test]
£101.00
About 0.5g of hair cut close to the scalp from the back of the head, or nape of the neck is required (about 1 heaped tablespoon full). It is helpful if our special hair mineral analysis request for is sent with the hair sample. The followiong trace and toxic metals are measured:
Ca, Mg, P, Na, K, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cr, Mn, Se, Ni, Co, Pb, Hg, Cd, As, Al
Note: This profile is a screening test only. Abnormalities should be confirmed with appropriate blood or urine tests.
£30.00
Sample report - Hair Mineral Analysis
A previously cleaned and weighed absorbent patch (7cm x 3cm) is taped to the patient’s back for 1 hour. The increase in the weight of the patch indicates the quantity of sweat collected. The trace elements are extracted from the patches with a mild acid solution.
The following elements are measured in the extract: Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mn, Na, Mg, Pb, Cd, Al
[Patient must attend the laboratory, no supplements on day of test]
£37.00
Sweat Mineral Analysis with Mercury
[Patient must attend the laboratory, no supplements on day of test]
£42.00
Sample report - Sweat Mineral Analysis
The following minerals are measured Ca,Mg,Zn,Cu,Fe,Cr,Mn.
[Blue - trace element free tube, no supplements on day of test, postal samples may be unsuitable for zinc]
£36.00
Serum Mineral Profile with RBC Mg
Ca,Mg,Zn,Cu,Fe,Cr,Mn, RBC Mg
[Blue - trace element free tube, Green heparin tube, no supplements on day of test, postal samples may be unsuitable for zinc.]
£40.00
K,Mg,Ca,Zn,Cu,Se
[Blue - trace element free tube, Green heparin tube]
£53.00
Magnesium and zinc
[Green heparin tube, samples must reach the laboratory within 24 hours]
£27.00
Individual metals in serum, red cells, whole blood or urine
[Blue - trace element free tube for serum zinc, Gold top tube (SST) for other trace minerals, Green top heparin tube for red cell, white cell and whole blood elements]
£12.00 each
Exceptions:
Serum Iron [Gold top tube (SST)] £10.00
Serum phosphate [Gold top tube (SST)] £21.00 (datasheet)
Urine Copper [mid-stream urine sample] £25.00
Urine Chromium [mid-stream urine sample] £25.00
Blood Toxic Elements - Industrial metals
Pb,Hg,Cd,Al
[Green heparin tube]
£40.00
Full toxic metals screen (blood or urine)
We can screen blood or urine for all toxic metals using plasma emission spectrometry scanning of a pre-concentrated and atomised sample. We can detect over 70 toxic elements and report includes quantitative results for 30 metals. Any other abnormalities or unusual elements detected are appended to the report or included on a covering letter.
[Green heparin tube or 6 hour urine collection - aliquot supplied with accurately measured total volume]
£100.00
Other tests for mineral and toxic metal status:
Caeruloplasmin (copper status)
[Gold top tube (SST)]
£15.00
Superoxide Dismutase (RBC) - an important antioxidant enzyme and functional test for copper status. (Download datasheet)
Why measure superoxide dismutase?
[Green top heparin tube]
£21.00
Copper Response Test
Fasting serum is collected and a further sample is taken 1 hour after an oral loading dose of 50mg of zinc. An increase in copper is usually found. A reduction in copper response to zinc is seen in copper deficiency and some patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
[Patient must attend the laboratory, Special appointment required]
£34.00
Other tests for mercury and toxic metals:
Mercury Sensitivity
Lymphocycte sensitivity to mercury.
[Green heparin tube, sample must arrive at the laboratory within 24 hours]
£53.00
Metals Sensitivity
Lymphocycte sensitivity to mercury, nickel, lead, copper, silver and gold
[Green heparin tube, sample must arrive at the laboratory within 24 hours]
£102.00
Other tests for magnesium status:
Magnesium Loading/Retention Test
£27.00
Bolab publications:
Red Cell Magnesium and Glutathione Peroxidase in Infertile Women - Effects of Oral Supplementation with Magnesium and Selenium McLaren Howard J, Davies S, Hunnisett AG. Mag. Res. 1994;7:49-57. Abstract
Magnesium and chronic fatigue syndrome (letter). McLaren Howard J, Davies S, Hunnissett A. Lancet 1992;i:426.
Magnesium and chronic fatigue syndrome (letter), Davies S. Lancet 1991;337:1295
Magnesium and the body. Howard JMH. Interaction, 1991;7:7-10.
Magnesium Deficiency in Peripheral Vascular Disease. Howard JMH. J.Nutr.Med. 1990;1:39-49 Abstract
Muscle Action, Trace Elements and Related Nutrients: The Myothermogram. Howard J, In: Chazot G, Abdulla M, Arnaud P, eds. Current Trends in Trace Element Research: Proceedings of International Symposium on Trace Elements. Paris, 1987, Smith-Gordon, London,1989, pp79-85 Abstract
Magnesium and potassium deficiencies in women with pre-menstrual syndrome. Stewart A, Howard JMH. Mag. Bull. 1986;8:314-316 Abstract
Iron and total iron binding capacity
[Gold top tube (SST)]
£16.00
Total iron binding capacity
[Gold top tube (SST)]
£10.00
RBC Glutathione Peroxidase (RBC GSH-Px) (Download datasheet)
Functional test for selenium status
[Green heparin tube, sample must arrive at the laboratory within 24 hours]
£19.00
Urine Iodine
[6 hour urine collection]
£21.00
Urine Na/K
(expressed as mM/mM creatinine)
[Early morning urine sample]
£32.00
Functional test for molybdenum status
[Early morning urine sample]
£12.00
1.5 hour (2 samples)
£21.00
3.0 hour (7 samples)
£42.00
[Blue top trace element free clotted tubes, special kit required from Biolab, no food from 10pm the previous evening]
Links to other Biolab tests:
Other Biolab tests and challenge tests