Cadmium

Kidney

Report in 12Hrs

At Home

No Fasting Required

Details

Heavy metal detection.

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Cadmium Test - Comprehensive Information Guide

Why is it done?
- Measures blood or urine levels of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal that accumulates in the body over time through occupational exposure, contaminated food and water, or cigarette smoke
- Identifies occupational or environmental exposure to cadmium in workers in metal smelting, battery manufacturing, electroplating, welding, or pigment industries
- Detects cadmium toxicity and monitors for potential kidney, bone, and respiratory damage from chronic exposure
- Evaluates patients with unexplained renal dysfunction, bone disease, or suspected heavy metal poisoning
- Assesses cumulative exposure in smokers and individuals with prolonged environmental contamination
- Performed during occupational health screening, baseline assessments for at-risk workers, and periodic monitoring in industries with cadmium exposure
Normal Range
- Blood Cadmium: Less than 1-2 μg/L (micrograms per liter) in non-occupationally exposed individuals; OSHA action level is 5 μg/L for occupational monitoring
- Urine Cadmium: Less than 1-2 μg/L or less than 0.5-1 μg/g creatinine; reflects long-term body burden and kidney accumulation
- Units of Measurement: Micrograms per liter (μg/L) for blood; micrograms per gram of creatinine (μg/g Cr) for urine to account for hydration status
- Normal vs. Abnormal: Normal results indicate minimal cadmium exposure with no significant health risk; elevated results (>5 μg/L blood or >10 μg/g creatinine urine) indicate occupational or environmental exposure requiring further investigation and possible intervention
- Values between 2-5 μg/L may indicate moderate exposure; levels above 15 μg/L suggest significant toxic exposure with risk of organ damage
Interpretation
- Low/Normal Levels (<1-2 μg/L): Indicates minimal exposure to cadmium; consistent with non-occupational populations; no immediate health concerns; typical baseline for general population
- Mildly Elevated (2-5 μg/L): Suggests occupational exposure or heavy smoking; may indicate workplace source or dietary contamination; requires investigation of exposure sources; monitoring recommended
- Moderately Elevated (5-15 μg/L): Indicates significant occupational exposure or chronic environmental contamination; reaches OSHA action levels; warrants workplace investigation and personal protective equipment review; early signs of toxicity may appear
- Highly Elevated (>15 μg/L): Indicates substantial toxic exposure with high risk of organ damage; immediate intervention required; kidney function assessment essential; may indicate acute poisoning or chronic severe exposure; work restrictions may be necessary
- Factors Affecting Results: Occupational exposure duration and intensity, cigarette smoking (10-20 times higher levels in smokers), dietary sources (shellfish, organ meats, grains), age (accumulates over time), kidney function (affects retention), and geographic location (contaminated water/soil)
- Clinical Significance: Blood cadmium reflects recent exposure (weeks to months); urine cadmium better indicates chronic body burden and kidney retention; elevated urine cadmium alone may suggest kidney damage allowing cadmium excretion
Associated Organs
- Primary Organs Affected: Kidneys (primary target organ; accumulates preferentially causing chronic kidney disease), lungs (respiratory exposure), bone (mimics calcium), liver, and prostate
- Renal Disease: Chronic cadmium exposure causes glomerular and tubular dysfunction; leads to proteinuria, decreased GFR, and progressive chronic kidney disease; irreversible tubular damage possible
- Bone Disease: Cadmium interferes with calcium metabolism causing osteoporosis, increased fracture risk, and bone pain; particularly affects postmenopausal women; itai-itai disease (characterized by severe bone pain and fractures) seen in severe chronic exposure
- Respiratory Effects: Inhalational exposure causes emphysema-like lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, reduced lung function, and potential respiratory failure in severe cases
- Cancer Risk: Classified as probable human carcinogen (IARC Group 2A); associated with lung, kidney, and prostate cancer; acts as endocrine disruptor affecting estrogen metabolism
- Other Complications: Hypertension, reproductive dysfunction, decreased fertility, fetal developmental effects, and metabolic effects including glucose intolerance
Follow-up Tests
- Renal Function Assessment: Serum creatinine, BUN, eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate), urinalysis with microscopy, 24-hour urine protein, and beta-2 microglobulin to assess kidney damage
- Bone Health Evaluation: Bone mineral density (DEXA scan), serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, vitamin D level (25-OH vitamin D), and PTH for osteoporosis assessment
- Pulmonary Function Tests: Spirometry, FEV1/FVC ratio, diffusion capacity (DLCO), and chest X-ray to evaluate respiratory effects and detect emphysema patterns
- Blood Pressure Monitoring: Regular monitoring for hypertension; 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring recommended for elevated levels
- Additional Heavy Metal Testing: Lead, mercury, and other heavy metals if occupational exposure involves multiple toxins
- Cancer Screening: Baseline and periodic screening for lung, kidney, and prostate cancer depending on exposure level and smoking history
- Baseline and Periodic Monitoring: Annual cadmium testing for occupational workers with ongoing exposure; more frequent if levels exceed action limits; baseline established at employment start
- Complementary Tests: Blood glucose testing (diabetes risk), lipid panel, liver function tests, and metallothionein levels (reflect cadmium burden)
Fasting Required?
- Fasting: NO - Fasting is not required for cadmium testing; can eat and drink normally before blood draw
- Specimen Collection: Blood sample collected in trace metal-free tube (typically special collection tube to prevent contamination); urine sample preferably first morning void or 24-hour collection
- Important Preparation: Avoid contamination during collection; use only trace metal-free containers provided by laboratory; inform phlebotomist if occupationally exposed; document exact collection time for urine specimens
- Medications: No specific medications need to be avoided; however, disclose all medications to laboratory as some may affect kidney function interpretation
- Patient Instructions: For blood cadmium: routine venipuncture; no special preparation needed. For urine cadmium: collect 24-hour urine or first morning void in provided container; maintain hygiene during collection; refrigerate urine if not analyzed immediately; document precise collection start/end times for 24-hour specimens
- Pre-test Considerations: Avoid major dietary changes 24-48 hours before test; limit shellfish and organ meats which are high in cadmium; avoid unnecessary supplement use; inform lab of occupational history; arrive well-hydrated for urine collection

How our test process works!