Cobalt, Blood Test - Book Test at Low Cost

Cobalt (CO) is an essential chemical element good for health. But the excessive amount of cobalt is toxic for the health. The individuals who work and live nearby the glass and pigment industry are at high risk of exposure to cobalt.

The Cobalt, Blood Test is to detect exposure to cobalt, toxic ingestion, and cobalt toxicity. It is also used to monitor the metal ion release from the metal-on-metal hip implants.

A blood cobalt test assesses occupational exposure or toxic cobalt ingestion. The symptoms related to cobalt toxicity depend on various factors, which include the route of exposure and mahaveinclude cardiomyopathy, pulmonary fibrosis, cough, and dyspnea.

What is Cobalt?

Cobalt is an element and a silvery metal that is utilized industrially. It has excellent magnetic properties and strength. In the human body, cobalt is used in vitamin B12, or cobalamin, which aids nerve function. Cobalt is easily absorbed in diet from animal products.

When taken in high doses, cobalt can also induce cobalt toxicity or cobalt poisoning in humans.

Why is Cobalt, Blood test done?

This test is suitable for the patient with

• Symptoms of polycythemia, thyroid problem, neuro problem, blood thickening, vision and hearing impairment, cardiomyopathy, etc.
• Suspected exposure to cobalt
• Suspected cobalt toxicity 

Where is cobalt found?

Cobalt is one of the essential components of vitamin B12.

Cobalt can also be found in-

• Alloys
• Batteries
• Chemistry/crystal sets
• Drills, blades, and other machine tools
• Dyes and pigments (cobalt blue)
• Magnets
• Some metal-on-metal hip implants
• Tires

Side effects of high doses of cobalt-

• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Cough
• Nerve damage
• Cardiac problems
• Dyspnea; difficulty breathing
• Allergic dermatitis; skin rash or irritation

Cobalt toxicity can also occur due to excessive environmental exposure and contaminated food.

Also, some Surgical implants are caused by cobalt poisoning.

What to check Before Calling an Emergency?

One should determine the following information:

• Person's age, weight, and condition
• Name of the product
• The time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed

What type of Sample is Required?

This test requires a blood sample of 2-7mL and 5mL of urine.

What is to be avoided before the test?

Patients are advised to take any vitamin supplements such as B12 or vitamin B Complex.

The High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are one of the factors that cause interference with most metal tests.

The ingestion of these metals should be avoided 96 hours before the test.

Preparation

You will be encouraged to avoid nutritional and mineral supplements, and Vitamin B12 medicines 3 days preceding the sample collection.

Procedure

The technician will draw a minimum of 2 ml of blood for the sample.

Know about the level of cobalt in your body and don’t let the health issue emerge due to the unwanted increased level of cobalt, Book your cobalt, and blood test with Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Centre at a reasonable cost.

• Collect the specimen using a metal needle, then the first 10 mL of blood should be discarded. After this, the tube for Cobalt analysis will be filled.
• If whole blood chromium or nickel is also required, a single sample may be utilized for all determinations.
• Blood anticoagulated with EDTA is used as a preferred specimen.

Interpretation Of result-

The average cobalt blood level is less than the thmicrogramscrogram/L.

If the result indicates more than this level, it may indicate cobalt toxicity.