0099610
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Thallium, Whole Blood

THALB
Example Reports
High
Normal

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Specimen Collection and Handling

Ordering Recommendation

Useful as a biomarker of acute thallium exposure. For the assessment of chronic exposure, consider Thallium, Urine (0025019).

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 nonessential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of their physician).

Collect

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

Specimen Preparation

Transport 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. Heparin anticoagulant. 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 2.0 µg/L

Interpretive Data

Blood thallium levels reflect recent exposure as thallium has a biological half-life of approximately 2 to 4 days. Blood levels greater than 100 ug/L are considered toxic and greater than 300 ug/L indicate severe ingestion. Reported symptoms after severe thallium poisonings have varying times of onset and include gastroenteritis, multiorgan failure and neurologic injury. Peripheral neuropathy and alopecia are well-documented effects of acute and chronic exposure. Human health effects from low level thallium exposure are unknown.

Elevated results may be due to skin- or collection-related contamination, including the use of tubes that are not certified to be trace element free. If an elevated result is suspected to be due to contamination, confirmation with a second specimen collected in a certified trace element-free tube is recommended.

Methodology: Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Compliance Category

Laboratory Developed Test (LDT)

Note

Hotline History

View Hotline History

 

Hotline History

Date of Change
Test Name Change
Methodology
Performance/Reported Schedule
Specimen Requirements
Reference Interval
Interpretive Data
Note
CPT Code
Component Change
Other Interface Change
New Test
Inactive
07/21/2025
X
X
N/A

CPT Codes

83018

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Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0099610 Thallium, Whole Blood 5743-0
* 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

  • WB thallium
  • TLB
  • Tl
Thallium, Whole Blood