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Are you experiencing symptoms of heavy metal poisoning, or feeling concerned about environmental toxicity and exposure to heavy metals?
Food, drinking water, and even the natural environment can lead to toxic illnesses. Detecting and diagnosing high levels of metals in the body is difficult to do on your own, but these reviewed heavy metal test kits make the process quick and easy.
A heavy metals test can be used as a medical procedure to measure the level of toxic metals that damage the body and nervous system. It uses organic samples—urine, blood, and hair—to determine dangerous amounts of exposure. Common metals like lead, copper, and cadmium are dangerous in large amounts [1].
High levels of heavy metals, or toxicity, found in the body may cause physical problems and weaken the immune system. Immediate exposure can cause symptoms like diarrhea and nausea.
Long-term exposure to toxic elements may cause internal organ damage leading to muscular, physical, and neurological deterioration [2].
The following information will help decide what heavy metal testing product is right for you.
Let’s review our top picks and who they’re right for, as well as how you use each one.
All the above products require blood, urine, and hair specimens. At-home tests will have information on how to collect your sample and safely prepare it for shipping. Testing begins as soon as the laboratory receives your specimen.
Blood and urine samples measure high levels of toxic metals and minerals, the cause of toxicity in your system. This is the better method if you’re concerned about recent environmental exposure to toxins from drinking water or industrial chemicals. Hair samples show the body’s reaction to high amounts of toxins and may help determine long-term toxicity and exposure to heavy metals.
Symptoms related to toxic metal poisoning exposure start mild and progress over time. Signs to look for are:
Mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic, sometimes found in water, are the most common toxic elements tested for poisoning and can cause very metal-specific symptoms.
For example, mercury poisoning may lead to neurological problems like hearing and speech difficulties. Lead poisoning may cause loss of appetite, aggression, and memory damage [4].
Each of the above products has specific handling procedures and typically looks for different metals, but they all have the following benefits.
Results from these test kits will show high-level toxins by including detailed, informational graphs. You’ll see the name of the metal, how much of that metal is found in your body, and if it falls in the healthy or toxic ranges. Some of the above facilities offer consultations for more in-depth explanations.
The type of environmental exposure experienced, from drinking water to prescription drugs, determines the poisoning levels and damage to the body. Test results from these kits allow you to address those concerns with a medical professional.
Keep in mind, even toxicity from water, if left untreated will cause damage to the immune and nervous system. A chronic diagnosis—slow poisoning for a long period of time—can affect the functions of the brain, kidney, lungs, liver, and blood [5].
Below are more common questions about heavy metal testing kits.
Of all the related products we’ve come across for heavy metals, Health Lab stands out as the overall winner.
They have panels to test for multiple metals and single metal test kits. With a network of over 4,500 labs, it’s easy to find a location near you. This company has, by far, the fastest turnaround for test data, and they understand the need for medical care on a budget, making them the most affordable for blood and urine tests.
Testing is simple using one of these products.
No, insurance does not cover heavy metal kits, however, ZRT will send a courtesy bill to some insurance companies, and True Health allows you to submit for reimbursement.
Hair tests are accurate for detecting imbalances found in the body which could be a cause of long-term toxic exposure. If you believe you were more recently exposed to contaminated water or other substances, using another sample would be better [6].
We recommend the above companies because of their excellence in the field of heavy metal tests, but Health Lab Heavy Metal Toxicity Test is our top pick for convenience, affordability, and rapidly delivered test results.
If you believe that you or a family member have been recently exposed to toxic metals from food, water, or chemicals, or if you have unexplained symptoms and health problems, these heavy metals test kits will be the fastest way to get the answers you need.
