Ordering Recommendation

May be useful in the assessment of acute or chronic exposure.

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is New York state approved.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation

Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Patients should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, and non-essential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of their physician).

Collect

Royal blue (K2EDTA) or royal blue (NaHep).

Specimen Preparation

Transport 3 or 6 mL whole blood in the original collection tube. (Min: 0.5 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature

Room temperature. Also acceptable: Refrigerated.

Unacceptable Conditions

Specimens collected in tubes other than royal blue (K2EDTA) or royal blue (NaHep).

Specimens transported in containers other than a royal blue (K2EDTA) or royal blue (NaHep) tube or trace element-free transport tube. Clotted specimens.

Remarks
Stability

Ambient: Indefinitely; Refrigerated: Indefinitely; Frozen: Unacceptable

Methodology

Quantitative Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP=MS)

Performed

Sun-Sat

Reported

1-3 days

Reference Interval

Less than or equal to 5.0 µg/L

Interpretive Data

Elevated results may be due to skin or collection-related contamination, including the use of a noncertified metal-free collection/transport tube. If contamination concerns exist due to elevated levels of blood bismuth, confirmation with a second specimen collected in a certified metal-free tube is recommended.

Compliance Category

Laboratory Developed Test (LDT)

Note

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

83018

Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0099478 Bismuth, Whole Blood 8161-2
* Component test codes cannot be used to order tests. The information provided here is not sufficient for interface builds; for a complete test mix, please click the sidebar link to access the Interface Map.

Aliases

  • Bi
  • Blood concentration, bismuth
Bismuth, Blood