Testing · Otak dan Sistem Saraf

Heavy Metal and Toxicology Test

Mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium exposure, measured in blood and urine.

OrderedAfter consultation
ResultsRead in a separate session

Reviewed by Dr Munirah Hishamshah · MMC 62691

A laboratory centrifuge loaded with sample tubes

Quick Answer

This test measures exposure to heavy metals and environmental compounds that accumulate in the body over time.

A heavy metal test measures exposure to mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium and several other environmental compounds that build up in the body over years. The symptoms are rarely dramatic. Usually it is fatigue that will not lift, brain fog, or tingling that ordinary tests cannot explain.

Who a heavy metal test suits

Chronic fatigue that ordinary bloods cannot explain
Brain fog, poor concentration or short-term memory problems
Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
Work in welding, battery manufacture, electronics recycling or chemistry labs
Eating predatory seafood more than three times a week
Long-term use of unregistered traditional medicine products

The details

This test is ordered after a consultation, and the results are read with you in a separate session.

Sample: Blood and 24 hour urine
Fasting: Not required. Avoid seafood for seventy-two hours before
Location: Damansara Perdana and I-City

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How this test runs

01Avoid seafood for seventy-two hours beforehandMercury from last night's meal can raise a blood reading without reflecting the real burden. Stop high mineral supplements three days before, and tell us if you work in manufacturing, welding or electronics recycling.
02Two kinds of sample are takenBlood for current exposure, and a twenty-four hour urine collection for accumulated burden.
03The source is identified firstA high reading means exposure. It does not automatically mean your symptoms come from it. The first step is always identifying and stopping the source.

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Methods we use and methods we do not

Method	Our position
Blood sample	Used, for current exposure
Twenty-four hour urine	Used, for accumulated burden
Provoked urine after a challenge agent	Not used as a first screen. Its reference values are not solid and people misread them easily.
Hair sample	Sometimes helps for mercury alone, although shampoo and dye contaminate it readily

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Interpretation

How we read results, and the limits

A high reading means exposure. It does not automatically mean your symptoms come from it. The first step is always identifying and stopping the source. Chelation therapy is not routine and we consider it only in confirmed poisoning under clinical guidance. We read results alongside a health screening and your symptoms. See the Ministry of Health Malaysia. Book a consultation. See also the metabolic assessment.

Every iLIV guide is written and reviewed under our editorial standards, and each one carries the name of the reviewing doctor together with their MMC registration number.

Common sources of exposure in Malaysia

Large predatory fish such as swordfish and bigeye tuna carry more mercury than small fish. Lead still appears in some older paint, in imported cookware without certification, and in a few unregistered traditional medicine products. Cadmium comes from cigarette smoke and contaminated soil. Arsenic can enter through well water in certain areas.

Mercury: large fish, older amalgam dental fillings
Lead: old paint, unregistered traditional products, glazed pottery
Cadmium: cigarettes, contaminated agricultural soil
Arsenic: well water, some rice
Aluminium and nickel: occupational exposure

Preparation

Avoid seafood for seventy-two hours before sampling, since mercury from last night can lift a blood reading without reflecting real burden. Stop mineral-heavy supplements three days before. Tell us if you work in manufacturing, welding or electronics recycling.

Frequently Asked

Should I avoid seafood before the test?

Yes, seventy-two hours. Mercury from last night can lift the reading without showing real burden.

Is hair testing reliable?

Sometimes useful for mercury, although shampoo and dye contaminate hair easily. Blood and urine are more reliable.

If my result is high, do I start chelation?

No. The first step is identifying and stopping the source. Chelation is only for confirmed poisoning.

Still have questions?

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Reviewed by Dr Munirah Hishamshah, MMC 62691. Updated 7 October 2026.
Information on this page is for general education and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Eligibility for any treatment is determined after consultation and testing.

References

Ministry of Health Malaysia

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Start with one conversation

An initial consultation to understand your situation before any testing is recommended.

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Damansara Perdana · I-City, Shah Alam · +60 14-801 6493