Test Category: Specialist Biochemistry
Investigation Name:Cadmium – Blood
Alias or Abbreviation:Cd
Accreditation:UKAS ISO15189:2022 Accredited test: On scope
Intro:
Cadmium is a non-essential element and acute ingestion cadmium salts causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Occupational exposure to cadmium fumes (from welding) can cause acute pulmonary inflammation and may give rise to serious respiratory problems in the long term. Renal tubular damage may also result from chronic exposure.Cadmium is usually requested for the purpose of occupational monitoring and whole blood is the appropriate first-line test. If blood cadmium is found to be elevated, urine cadmium is useful in assessing kidney cadmium burden.
Blood cadmium concentrations may be 4-5 times higher in smokers, and urine concentrations may also be elevated.
Pathology Laboratory:Trace Elements Laboratory
Requestable Seperately?No
Units:nmol/L
Minimum Sample Volume:500 µL whole blood
Expected Turnaround Time:7 working days. Urgent analysis where clinically indicated may be arranged directly with the laboratory.
Test Code:CD
Sample Type:
Preferred: EDTA whole blood.Accepted: Trace element free sodium heparin whole blood.
Note: Plasma/serum is NOT suitable.
Complex Reference Range:Non-smoker: less than 9.0 nmol/L
Smoker: less than 27 nmol/L
Referred to Another Laboratory?Yes
Storage Requirements:Store at 4 °C prior to dispatch
Posting Address / Requirements:Ambient temperature, 1st Class Post,
Sandwell Health Campus,
Specialist Chemistry,
Pathology Department,
Lyndon,
B71 4HJ.
EQA Scheme:UK NEQAS for Trace Elements
Further information:We are able to undertake occupational cadmium testing and share our external quality assurance performance with the Health and Safety Executive as required.
We are a designated Supra-Regional Assay Service (SAS) Laboratory for Trace Elements.
Lead Contact Details:Dr Nicola Barlow, Consultant Clinical Scientist,
SAS Director Trace Elements Laboratory
Email: nicola.barlow1@nhs.net
Email Address For Chasing Results:rwh-tr.bcpsspecialistchemistryenquiries@nhs.net
Methodology:Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Site Sample Tested:Sandwell Health Campus
Cost:Please email: bcpspathology.info@nhs.net for further details
Contact Number:0121 507 5162
