Mercury Testing

 

Mercury testing is offered on whole blood samples.

There are three forms of mercury found in the environment: elemental (metallic), inorganic, and organic. The blood mercury test indicates exposure to all three forms of mercury.

Common sources of mercury exposure are eating fish or shellfish contaminated with methylmercury and breathing elemental mercury vapors.

 

Specimen Collection

 

Blood:

2 mL of whole blood collected in evacuated tubes with EDTA (preferred) or heparin anticoagulant

 

Testing Procedure

 

Blood mercury samples are diluted and the mercury is measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS).

 

Links to Other Sites

 

• Environmental Protection Agency
• Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 
• Wisconsin Fish Consumption Advisories