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Test Code PBPFD Lead Profile Occupational Exposure, Blood


Ordering Guidance


This test is only for assessment of occupational exposure to lead. The preferred test for lead toxicity in children is blood lead. For more information see:

-PBDV / Lead, Venous, with Demographics, Blood

-PBDC / Lead, Capillary, with Demographics, Blood

 

The preferred screening test for suspicion of a hepatic porphyria is urine porphyrins. For more information see PQNRU / Porphyrins, Quantitative, Random, Urine.



Necessary Information


Include a list of medications the patient is currently taking.



Specimen Required


Both EDTA whole blood and heparin whole blood specimens are required.

 

Patient Preparation:

1. High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are known to interfere with most inductively couple plasma mass spectrometry-based metal tests. If either gadolinium- or iodine-containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for 96 hours.

2. Patient should abstain from alcohol for 24 hours prior to specimen collection.

 

Specimen Type: Whole blood

Supplies:

-Metal Free B-D Tube (EDTA), 6 mL (T183)

-Metal Free B-D Tube (EDTA), 3 mL (T989)

-Microtainer (EDTA) Tube, 0.5 mL (T174)

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Royal blue-top BD Vacutainer Plus with EDTA blood collection tube (6 mL) (BD catalog no. 368381)

Acceptable: Royal blue-top BD vacutainer with EDTA blood collection tube (3 mL), BD Microtainer with EDTA, or royal blue-top Monoject trace element blood collection tube

Specimen Volume: 2 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. See Metal Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport for complete instructions.

2. Send whole blood specimen in original tube. Do not aliquot.

3. Refrigerate specimen as soon as possible.

 

Specimen Type: Whole blood

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Green top (sodium heparin)

Acceptable: Dark blue top (metal free heparin), green top (lithium heparin), or lavender top (EDTA)

Specimen Volume: 4 mL

Collection Instructions: Refrigerate specimen as soon as possible after collection.


Useful For

Detecting lead toxicity due to occupational exposure

Profile Information

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
PBB Lead, B Yes, (order PBDV) Yes
PPFE Protoporphyrins, Fractionation, WB Yes Yes
DEMO5 Patient Demographics No Yes

Method Name

PBB: Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

PPFE: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with Fluorescence Detection

Reporting Name

Lead Profile Occ Exposure, B

Specimen Type

Whole blood

Specimen Minimum Volume

See Specimen Required

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Whole blood Refrigerated 7 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia Reject
Clotted blood Reject

Reference Values

LEAD: <3.5 mcg/dL

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommended limit for blood lead level is 40 mcg/dL (OSHA 1978).

The biological exposure index (BEI) for Pb in blood of exposed workers is 20 mcg/dL (ACGIH 2018).

 

Critical Values:

Pediatrics (≤15 years): ≥20.0 mcg/dL

Adults (≥16 years): ≥70.0 mcg/dL

 

PROTOPORPHYRINS, FRACTIONATION

Free Protoporphyrin: <20 mcg/dL

Zinc-Complexed Protoporphyrin: <60 mcg/dL

Interpretation

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified the blood lead test as the preferred test for detecting lead exposure. The most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data show that 97.5 percentile for blood lead levels in US adults 16 years and older is 3.46 mcg/dL. In concurrence with the reference value concept that there is no safe level of lead in blood, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Occupational Health Subcommittee approved lowering the blood lead threshold from 5 mcg/dL to 3.5 mcg/dL for adults. For children younger than 6 years, the current reference level at which the CDC recommends public health actions be initiated is 3.5 mcg/dL. Chelation therapy is indicated when whole blood lead concentration is above 25 mcg/dL in children or above 45 mcg/dL in adults.

 

Occupational Safety and Health Standards: Lead (1983). 29 CFR Part 1910.1025 App C Action required for workers with Elevated Lead Values OSHA, Occupational Exposure to Lead, 1978:

 

Number of tests performed

Whole blood lead concentration

Action required

1

≥40  mcg/dL

Notification of worker in writing; medical examination of worker and consultation.

3 (average)

≥50  mcg/dL

Removal of worker from job with potential lead exposure.

1

≥60  mcg/dL

Removal of worker from job with potential lead exposure.

2

<40  mcg/dL

Reinstatement of worker in job with potential lead exposure is based upon symptoms and medical evaluation.

 

OSHA requirements in effect since 1978 call for the measurement of whole blood lead and zinc protoporphyrin (CLSI document C42-A, November 1996) to evaluate the occupational exposure to lead.

 

Elevated zinc protoporphyrin levels in adults may indicate long-term (chronic) lead exposure or may be indicative of iron deficiency anemia or anemia of chronic disease.

Day(s) Performed

Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Report Available

2 to 6 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

CPT Code Information

83655

82542

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
PBPFD Lead Profile Occ Exposure, B 29588-1

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
VECP Venous/Capillary 31208-2
8602 Lead, B 77307-7
2327 Zinc-Complexed Protoporphyrin 2895-1
2326 Free Protoporphyrin 94491-8
PTADD Patient Street Address 56799-0
PTCIT Patient City 68997-6
29511 Interpretation 59462-2
PTSTA Patient State 46499-0
PTZIP Patient Zip Code 45401-7
PTCNT Patient County 87721-7
PTPHO Patient Home Phone 42077-8
PTRAC Patient Race 32624-9
PTETH Patient Ethnicity 69490-1
PTOCC Patient Occupation 11341-5
PTEMP Patient Employer 80427-8
GDFN Guardian First Name 79183-0
GDLN Guardian Last Name 79184-8
MDORD Health Care Provider Name 52526-1
MDADD Health Care Provider Street Address 74221-3
MDCIT Health Care Provider City 52531-1
MDSTA Health Care Provider State 52532-9
MDZIP Health Care Provider Zip Code 87720-9
MDPHO Health Care Provider Phone 68340-9
LABPH Submitting Laboratory Phone 65651-2