Cadmium in Whole Blood (Mass Concentration)
This test measures the amount of cadmium, a heavy metal, in your blood. Cadmium can come from environmental sources like tobacco smoke or industrial exposure.
["Cadmium levels may indicate exposure risks or potential health concerns."]
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 109636-1
- Short code
- CDRBC
- Synonyms
- Cadmium Msmt RBC
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- whole-blood
- Container
- Trace element-free royal blue-top EDTA (K2EDTA) tube; trace metal-free collection tubes required
- Units
- N/A
- Ref low
- 0
- Ref high
- 0.5
- Critical range
- 2 N/A – 7 N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- ≥ 18 years
- Method
- Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
- CPT
- 82300
- SNOMED
- 313163008
- Specimen volume
- 3 mL whole blood (minimum 1 mL)
- Stability
- Room temperature: 7 days; Refrigerated (2-8°C): 30 days; Frozen (-20°C or below): 6 months. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
- Hemolysis max
- 0
- Lipemia max
- 0
- Icterus max
- 0
- TAT
- 48–168 hours
- Order
- routine
Why Is This Test Done?
Your healthcare provider may order this test if you have symptoms like metal poisoning (e.g., nausea, weakness), if you work in industries with cadmium exposure, or if you smoke tobacco. It can also help monitor long-term exposure or check for kidney damage, as cadmium is harmful to these organs over time.
What to Expect Before the Test
No special preparation is needed. You may have a small needle inserted into your arm to draw a blood sample. If you’re on blood thinners or have a history of bleeding issues, let your provider know beforehand.
What the Results Mean
Results are compared to a general reference range for healthy adults. High levels may suggest recent or long-term exposure to cadmium, which can affect your kidneys or other organs. Your provider will discuss any abnormal results with you.
Common Causes of Abnormal Results
Elevated cadmium levels can result from smoking, occupational exposure (e.g., mining, battery manufacturing), or consuming contaminated food/water. Low levels are usually normal unless you have a known deficiency or medical condition affecting metal absorption.
Reference range
Reference range for cadmium in red blood cells varies by laboratory. Typical adult reference range is <0.5 µg/L (<4.5 nmol/L) in non-smokers and <1.0 µg/L (<8.9 nmol/L) in smokers. Consult laboratory-specific reference values for interpretation.N/A
No fasting required. Patients should avoid recent seafood consumption (within 48 hours) prior to specimen collection as this may transiently affect trace metal levels. Patients should also inform their healthcare provider of any occupational or environmental cadmium exposure history.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
◆Associated findings1
Short name
Cadmium Blood Test
Frequently asked questions
What triggers this test?
How is the test performed?
Do I need to avoid certain foods or activities before the test?
Sources
- 1
- 2Lab Tests OnlineSource
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 17, 2026. · Read our editorial policy