Turnaround times
The quoted turnaround time is from sample receipt in the laboratory, to results authorisation in the Laboratory Information Management system. The times do not include transport of specimen to the laboratory or the administrative process to print and post/email reports. Service users must allow for transport and reporting time when ordering tests.
Clinical background:
Cadmium is a heavy metal with chemical symbol Cd. It is a byproduct of zinc production, has applications in pigments, coatings, stabilizers and alloys and is used in the manufacture of certain batteries and solar panels. It has high toxicity and is listed in the European Restriction of Hazardous Substances. Currently Cadmium has no known biological funciton in higher organisms. Tobacco smoking is the most important single source of cadmium exposure in the general population. The absorption of cadmium from the lungs is much more effective than from the gut. On average smokers have 4-5 times higher blood cadmium concentrations and 2-3 times higher kidney cadmium concentrations than non-smokers. In non-smokers food is the main source of exposure occurring in crustaceans, mollusks, grains, vegetables and starchy roots and tubers. The most common source of chronic exposure comes from spray painting of organic-based paints without use of a protective breathing aparatus, another common source of exposure is tobacco smoke. Toxicity attacks the kidneys with the typical presentation being renal dysfunction with proteinuria of slow onset. Breathing the fumes of cadmium vapours leads to nasal epithelial deterioration and pulmonary congestion resembling chronic emphysema. Individuals most susceptible to toxicity are those with low iron and other mineral body stores.
Specimen container paediatric:
Whole blood-Trace element tube
Specimen container adult:
Whole blood-Trace element tube
Minimum volume paediatric:
2 mL blood
Minimum volume adult:
2 mL blood
Special requirements:
Also send an empty EDTA tube.N.B. Blood is preferred to urine for investigation of cadmium status.
Transport requirements:
Post at ambient temperature
Reference ranges:
<27 nmol/L (non-smokers)
<54 nmol/L (smoker)
Factors affecting result:
High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are known to interfere. If gadolinium- or iodine- containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for 96 hours.