Arsenic, Blood Test
An arsenic, blood test measures the amount of arsenic present in a blood sample. Arsenic is an element found in some environments and foods, and clinicians use this marker to help evaluate the possibility of recent exposure.
About this test
Arsenic occurs naturally in soil, water, and certain foods, and it is also used in some industrial and agricultural settings. Because arsenic is not a nutrient the body needs, measuring it in the blood gives a clinician a way to think about whether recent contact with a source may have occurred.
The test uses a routine blood draw at a Quest patient service center. A phlebotomist collects a sample from a vein, usually in the arm, and the sample travels to the laboratory.
Who might consider this test?
- People who look into an arsenic blood test are often exploring a possible source of exposure
- For instance well water in certain regions
- Particular occupations or hobbies
Test details
| Quest code | 269 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry |
| Sample type | 4 mL whole blood |
| Patient preparation | Avoid seafood for 48 hours before your blood draw. |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
Reference range
<23 mcg/L
Reference ranges are general guidance. The range printed on your own laboratory report is the one that applies to your result.
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Quest resources
Additional details
What this test looks at
The test looks at how much arsenic is circulating in the blood at the time the sample is drawn. Since arsenic is not something the body requires, its presence points toward contact with an outside source rather than a normal internal process. A clinician uses that alongside where a person lives, what they eat, and how they spend their time to weigh whether an exposure is likely.
It also helps to know the limits of a single sample. Blood reflects a recent window rather than a lifetime of exposure, and diet can nudge the reading, so a clinician reads the marker in context instead of treating it as a standalone verdict.
How it is often used
Clinicians commonly consider an arsenic blood test when a discussion about water, food, work, or hobbies raises a question about exposure. It may also be used to follow a situation over time — for example after a water source has been changed or a workplace practice adjusted — so a clinician can see how the marker shifts. In some occupational settings it is part of a broader monitoring routine overseen by an employer's clinician.
Order online and a physician order is included — no doctor's visit and no insurance needed. Your sample is collected at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does an arsenic blood test measure?
It measures the amount of arsenic present in a blood sample. Arsenic is not needed by the body, so the result helps a clinician evaluate whether recent contact with a source may have occurred.
Can food affect the result?
Yes. Some foods, particularly certain seafood, can influence arsenic measurements. A clinician takes recent meals into account when interpreting the marker, which is part of why context matters so much here.
How is the sample collected?
Through a routine blood draw at a Quest patient service center. A phlebotomist takes a small sample from a vein in the arm and sends it to the laboratory for analysis.
Does this test show long-term exposure?
A blood sample generally reflects fairly recent exposure rather than a lifetime total, because arsenic does not remain in the blood indefinitely. A clinician may consider timing and repeat testing when useful.
Do I need to prepare?
Quest lists preparation instructions for this test; they appear with the test details, and people follow any further instructions their ordering clinician provides.
How much does the Arsenic test cost?
The cash price at Celio Health is $109. That covers the physician's order and sample collection at a Quest patient service center — no insurance is needed and there's no separate doctor's visit to pay for.
Do I need to prepare for this test?
Avoid seafood for 48 hours before your blood draw. This is the preparation Quest publishes for this test; if your clinician gives you different instructions, follow theirs.