Mercury, Blood Test
A mercury blood test measures the amount of mercury present in a blood sample. Clinicians use it in the context of possible exposure to help evaluate that situation, read alongside a person's history and circumstances rather than as an answer on its own.
About this test
Mercury is a metal that can enter the body in small amounts through diet, environment, or certain occupational settings. A mercury blood test measures how much mercury is present in a sample at the time of the draw.
The mercury blood test is done with a blood draw at a Quest patient service center. A phlebotomist collects a sample from a vein, usually in the arm, and the sample goes to the laboratory.
Who might consider this test?
- Often looking into a possible exposure — for example
- Living environment — or following up on a clinician's suggestion
- Others include it as part of a broader look at metals when circumstances point that way.
Test details
| Quest code | 636 |
|---|---|
| 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
≤10 mcg/L
Reference ranges are general guidance. The range printed on your own laboratory report is the one that applies to your result.
Related tests and panels
A comprehensive panel that helps assess whether environmental pollutants are…
Measures arsenic in whole blood, used in monitoring arsenic exposure and certain…
Measures chromium in a urine sample, related to occupational, environmental or…
Quest resources
Additional details
What this test looks at
This test measures the amount of mercury in a blood sample at the moment it is collected. It reflects a specific window of time, which is why a clinician considers when the sample was taken relative to any suspected exposure.
It also helps to remember what the test is not. A single measurement describes what is in the sample, not the whole story of an exposure, so a clinician may look at history, symptoms, and sometimes additional testing to build a fuller picture.
Why context and timing matter
A mercury measurement means the most when it is read alongside how someone might have been exposed. Diet, work, hobbies, and environment all shape what a result suggests, and the same measurement can carry different meaning for different people. Because levels can change as an exposure starts, continues, or ends, timing is an important part of how a clinician reads the result.
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 a mercury blood test measure?
It measures the amount of mercury present in a blood sample at the time of the draw. Clinicians use this in the context of possible exposure, interpreted alongside a person's history and circumstances.
Why is context so important for this test?
A mercury result means the most when read alongside how someone might have been exposed, such as through diet, work, hobbies, or environment. The same measurement can carry different meaning depending on that context.
Does timing affect a mercury blood test?
It can. A blood sample reflects a specific window of time, and levels can change as an exposure starts, continues, or ends. A clinician considers when the sample was taken relative to any suspected exposure.
How is the sample collected?
Through a 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.
Can this test diagnose mercury poisoning on its own?
No. A mercury result is a data point that a clinician interprets alongside exposure history, symptoms, and other markers. It helps inform a conversation rather than establishing a diagnosis on its own.
How much is a Mercury Blood test?
$115, paid once at checkout. The price includes the physician's order this test requires and sample collection at a Quest patient service center.
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.