MetabolicMarkers

Educational content only, not medical advice. We are not a medical provider; review your results with a licensed physician. Details

Current promotion

Heavy Metal Blood Test Panels: Lead, Mercury, Arsenic & Cadmium

Measure your exposure to lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium with lab-grade blood and urine panels.

Affiliate disclosure: we earn a commission when you purchase lab tests through links on this site, at no extra cost to you. Learn more

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Blood panels from $103.16 and urine panels from $110.40 with the current 20% promotion (regular prices $128.95–$265.95 for blood and $138–$188 for urine); pricing at time of writing.

At a glance

Heavy metal testing measures levels of toxic metals, arsenic, lead, and mercury, with cadmium included on expanded panels, in a blood or urine sample. It is designed for adults who suspect exposure from everyday sources such as aging plumbing, frequent consumption of large fish, pre-1978 painted surfaces, workplace environments, or cigarette smoke. Results give you and your doctor objective numbers to review, and a baseline to retest against after reducing an exposure source.

Best suited for

  • Adults living in older homes with pre-1978 paint or aging lead or copper plumbing
  • People who frequently eat large predatory fish such as tuna or swordfish
  • Workers with potential exposure in manufacturing, metalwork, or other industrial settings
  • Smokers and others concerned about cadmium exposure
  • Anyone with unexplained fatigue, headaches, or digestive complaints who wants objective exposure data to review with a doctor

What's included

Heavy Metals Blood Test Panel

Blood; screens for arsenic, lead, and mercury (3 biomarkers)

Heavy Metals Blood Test Panel 2

Blood; expanded panel covering 6 biomarkers across 5 tests

Heavy Metals 24 Hour Urine Test Panel

24-hour urine; measures excretion of arsenic, lead, and mercury

Heavy Metals Random Urine Test Panel

Random urine; 4 biomarkers for recent exposure

Heavy Metals 24 Hour Urine Test Panel With Cadmium

24-hour urine; adds cadmium to lead, arsenic, and mercury

Heavy Metals Random Urine Test Panel with Cadmium

Random urine; cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic

The importance of testing

Heavy metal exposure is more common than most people realize, and it rarely announces itself. Tap water passing through aging lead or copper plumbing, mercury that accumulates in large fish like tuna and swordfish, lead-based paint in homes built before the 1978 ban, cadmium absorbed from cigarette smoke, and even certain cosmetics, ceramics, and jewelry can all contribute. Because these exposures are gradual, metals can build up in the body without an obvious warning sign.

Testing turns that uncertainty into data. The blood panels screen for arsenic, lead, and mercury circulating in your bloodstream, with an expanded second panel covering six biomarkers. The urine panels, available as random samples or 24-hour collections, measure how much of these metals your body is excreting, and collecting urine over a full day improves detection of cumulative metal burden compared with a single random sample. Panels with cadmium added are relevant for smokers and for people with occupational exposure.

Elevated results are markers associated with nervous system, kidney, and cardiovascular stress, so they are worth taking to your doctor rather than interpreting alone. A physician can weigh your numbers against symptoms such as persistent fatigue, headaches, or digestive complaints and help you identify the most likely exposure source.

The practical value is in the trend. A baseline result gives you a reference point; if a level is elevated, the usual next step is to reduce or remove the suspected source, changing water, diet, or workplace habits, and then retest to confirm your levels are moving in the right direction.

Promo code

ULTA20HM

Save 20% with code ULTA20HM, current promotion; confirm final pricing on the partner page.

Ready to get your numbers? Order online, visit a nearby draw site, and receive private results to review with your doctor.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a heavy metals test measure?

A heavy metals test measures levels of toxic metals, arsenic, lead, and mercury, with cadmium included on expanded panels, in a blood or urine sample. Elevated results are markers associated with nervous system, kidney, and cardiovascular stress, and they can point to an exposure source such as water, diet, home, or workplace that is worth addressing with your doctor.

Should I choose a blood or urine heavy metals panel?

Blood panels measure metals currently circulating in your bloodstream, while urine panels assess how much your body is excreting. A 24-hour urine collection improves detection of cumulative metal burden compared with a random sample, so it is often chosen when longer-term exposure is the concern. Your doctor can help you pick based on your symptoms and likely exposure source.

Can I order heavy metal testing without a doctor's visit?

Yes, these panels can be ordered online directly through the partner lab without a separate doctor's appointment. You choose a panel, provide a blood or urine sample at a local patient service center, and receive results you can review with your own physician.

Is heavy metal testing available in every state?

No, direct-to-consumer lab testing is restricted or prohibited in New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, so residents of those states may be blocked at the partner's checkout. Elsewhere in the US, you can typically order online and test at a nearby lab location.

What are common sources of heavy metal exposure?

Common sources include tap water from aging lead or copper plumbing, mercury that accumulates in large fish like tuna and swordfish, lead-based paint in homes built before 1978, cadmium in cigarette smoke, and certain cosmetics, ceramics, jewelry, gardening products, and industrial emissions. Identifying your likely source helps you and your doctor interpret results and decide what to change.

What should I do if my heavy metal levels come back high?

Bring your results to your doctor, who can interpret them in the context of your symptoms and exposure history and recommend next steps. That often means identifying and removing the likely source, then retesting to confirm your levels are trending down over time.