The Arsenic is known to be the chemical that occurs in different minerals. It also exists in many nontoxic and toxic forms respectively. When it is exposed to arsenic, the level in the blood will be enhanced for a short time....
What is Arsenic? What is the Serum Arsenic Test?
The Arsenic is known to be the chemical that occurs in different minerals. It also exists in many nontoxic and toxic forms respectively. When it is exposed to arsenic, the level in the blood will be enhanced for a short time. Subsequently, it disappears into the tissues due to its high affinity for tissue proteins. The half-life in blood is also 4–6 hours after its exposure. The extreme levels indicate that there was significant exposure; however, it would only be detected only at once after the exposure.
Note: It has been seen that 2-day-old blood specimens in general, the arsenic levels would not be detected. Some symptoms that would follow the acute arsenic poisoning are mentioned as follows:
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Hemolysis
- Hypotension
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Mental mood changes
- Fever and seizures
Use of Serum Arsenic Test
This Test used to either monitor a recent exposure or an acute exposure to the element arsenic.
High level of arsenic may indicate arsenic poisoning.
Exposure to arsenic are due to: contaminated food items – the shellfish, fruits, vegetables, rice.
Limitations of Serum Arsenic Test
As Arsenic has a short half-life in blood, it may be challenging to detect its accurate levels in the bloodstream.
Thus, it has been noted that the Urine arsenic measurement is a much better method to measure the arsenic poisoning. In addition to the pesticides, the rodenticides, the weed killers, paint, and the wood preservatives contain the element arsenic.
This test has been developed subsequently its performance characteristics were determined.
Note: It is important to understand that this test has not been cleared nor has been approved by Food and Drug Administration yet.
What is the Methodology used?
The methodology used for this test is the Inductively-coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS)
What is the Reference Interval?
The reference interval of Arsenic in the Serum Arsenic Test is 0−9 μg/L
Normal Values of Arsenic in a Healthy Individual
Guidelines to follow before, during and after the test
LevelLevel
Age-Group Arsenic-
