Blood Lead and Hemoglobin: Interpreting Anemia and Lead Exposure
Blood lead and hemoglobin answer two different questions, but they often belong in the same conversation. A blood lead test shows how much lead...
Blood Lead Test: High Lead Level, Normal Range, Lead Poisoning, Toxicity, and Results
A blood lead test measures how much lead is circulating in the blood at the time of testing. It is the main test used...
Cadmium and Kidney Markers: Interpreting Heavy Metal Kidney Risk
Cadmium is a toxic metal that can build up slowly in the body, especially in the kidneys. Unlike a sudden poisoning event, cadmium-related kidney...
Cadmium Blood Test: High Cadmium, Normal Range, Exposure, Toxicity, and Results
A cadmium blood test measures the amount of cadmium in your blood, usually to check for recent or ongoing exposure to this toxic metal....
Carbamazepine Blood Test: Therapeutic Range, Toxic Level, Seizure Medication Monitoring, and Results
A carbamazepine blood test measures how much carbamazepine is in the bloodstream. Carbamazepine is a seizure medicine also used for trigeminal neuralgia and some...
Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, and Valproic Acid: Interpreting Seizure Medication Levels
Carbamazepine, phenytoin, and valproic acid blood tests measure how much seizure medication is circulating in the blood at a specific moment. These medicines can...
Carbon Monoxide Blood Test: Carboxyhemoglobin Level, Poisoning, Normal Range, and Results
A carbon monoxide blood test measures carboxyhemoglobin, the form of hemoglobin created when carbon monoxide attaches to red blood cells. This test is used...
Chromium Blood Test: High Chromium, Normal Range, Exposure, Toxicity, and Results
A chromium blood test is used when a clinician needs to check for recent chromium exposure, possible toxicity, or metal release from certain orthopedic...
Cobalt Blood Test: High Cobalt, Normal Range, Exposure, Toxicity, and Results
A cobalt blood test measures the amount of cobalt circulating in the blood, usually to check possible exposure from a metal-on-metal hip implant, certain...
Cyanide Blood Test: Toxic Cyanide Level, Poisoning, Exposure, and Results
A cyanide blood test measures cyanide in the blood after a possible exposure to cyanide gas, cyanide salts, smoke from a fire, certain industrial...
Cyclosporine Blood Test: Therapeutic Range, Toxic Level, Transplant Drug Monitoring, and Results
A cyclosporine blood test measures how much cyclosporine is circulating in the blood so the dose can be kept high enough to protect a...
Digoxin Blood Test: Therapeutic Range, Toxic Level, Heart Medication Monitoring, and Results
A digoxin blood test measures how much digoxin is circulating in the blood after someone takes this heart medication. Digoxin can help some people...
Digoxin Level and Potassium: Interpreting Toxicity Risk
Digoxin is a heart medication with a narrow safety margin, so its blood level is most useful when it is interpreted with potassium, kidney...
Ethanol Blood Test: Blood Alcohol Level, Intoxication, Legal Limit, and Results
An ethanol blood test measures the amount of alcohol, or ethyl alcohol, in the blood at the time the sample is collected. It is...
Ethylene Glycol Blood Test: Antifreeze Poisoning, Toxic Level, Kidney Risk, and Results
An ethylene glycol blood test measures the amount of ethylene glycol in the bloodstream after possible exposure to antifreeze, radiator coolant, de-icing fluid, or...
Gentamicin Blood Test: Peak and Trough Levels, Therapeutic Range, Toxicity, and Results
A gentamicin blood test measures how much gentamicin is in the bloodstream after a dose. Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic used for serious bacterial...
Heavy Metals Blood Test Panel: Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium, Toxicity, and Results
A heavy metals blood test panel checks for toxic metals that can enter the body through old paint, contaminated water, certain jobs, hobbies, foods,...
Isopropanol Blood Test: Toxic Alcohol Poisoning, High Levels, Exposure, and Results
An isopropanol blood test measures the amount of isopropyl alcohol, also called isopropanol or rubbing alcohol, in the bloodstream after a possible toxic exposure....
Lead and Zinc Protoporphyrin: Interpreting Lead Exposure and Iron Deficiency
Lead and zinc protoporphyrin are often ordered together because they tell different parts of the same story. A blood lead level shows how much...
Lithium Blood Test: Therapeutic Range, Toxic Level, Bipolar Medication Monitoring, and Results
A lithium blood test measures the amount of lithium in the bloodstream, usually to make sure bipolar medication is working without reaching a dangerous...