Specimen Requirements

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Stability

Days Performed

Sun - Sat

Turnaround Time

2 - 4 days

Methodology

Reference Range

Special Info

Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Patients should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, and non-essential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of their physician). Specimens collected in tubes other than royal blue (EDTA), or specimens transported in containers other than a royal blue (EDTA) tube or trace element-free transport tube will be rejected. Heparin anticoagulant is unacceptable. Clotted specimens will be rejected. This test is New York DOH approved.

Clinical Info

Blood thallium levels reflect recent exposure as thallium has a biological half-life of approximately 2 to 4 days. Blood levels greater than 100 µg/L are considered toxic and greater than 300 µg/L indicate severe ingestion. After severe thallium poisonings, reported symptoms have varying times of onset and include gastroenteritis, multi-organ failure and neurologic injury. Peripheral neuropathy and alopecia are well-documented effects of acute and chronic exposure. Human health effects from low-level thallium exposure are unknown. Elevated results may be due to skin or collection-related contamination, including the use of a noncertified metal-free collection/transport tube. If contamination concerns exist due to elevated levels of blood thallium, confirmation with a second specimen collected in a certified metal-free tube is recommended.