Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Sign In
Navigate Up

22335 Arsenic, Hair (ASHA)

Arsenic, Hair (ASHA)
Test Code: MISC
Synonyms/Keywords
​Arsenic (As), As (Arsenic
Useful For
​Detection of nonacute arsenic exposure in hair specimens
Specimen Requirements
Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​Hair  Hair and Nails Collection Kit ​ ​ 0.2 g​
0.05 g​
 ​
Collection Processing Instructions

Prepare and transport specimen per the instructions in the kit or see Collecting Hair and Nails for Metals Testing in Special Instructions on the Mayo Clinic website.

Additional Information: If known, indicate source of hair (axillary, head, or pubic).
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature
Hair​ ​ ​ Ambient (preferred)​
Frozen ​
Refrigerated ​
Rejection Criteria

​All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.

Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Report Available Methodology/Instrumentation
Mayo Clinic Laboratories​
 Tuesday
2 to 7 days​
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)​
Reference Lab
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
Reference Range Information
0-15 years: not established
> or =16 years: <1.0 mcg/g of hair
Interpretation
​Hair grows at a rate of approximately 0.5 inch/month. Hair keratin synthesized today will protrude through the skin in approximately 1 week. Thus, a hair specimen collected at the skin level represents exposure of 1 week ago, 1 inch distally from the skin represents exposure 2 months ago, etc.
 
Hair arsenic levels above 1.00 mcg/g dry weight indicates excessive exposure. It is normal for some arsenic to be present in hair, as everybody is exposed to trace amounts of arsenic from the normal diet.
 
The highest hair arsenic observed at Mayo Clinic was 210 mcg/g dry weight in a case of chronic exposure that was the cause of death.
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
​82175 ​ ​ ​ ​
Synonyms/Keywords
​Arsenic (As), As (Arsenic
Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Description
​COM ​Misc Test
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​Hair  Hair and Nails Collection Kit ​ ​ 0.2 g​
0.05 g​
 ​
Collection Processing

Prepare and transport specimen per the instructions in the kit or see Collecting Hair and Nails for Metals Testing in Special Instructions on the Mayo Clinic website.

Additional Information: If known, indicate source of hair (axillary, head, or pubic).
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature
Hair​ ​ ​ Ambient (preferred)​
Frozen ​
Refrigerated ​
Rejection Criteria

​All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.

Useful For
​Detection of nonacute arsenic exposure in hair specimens
Reference Range Information
0-15 years: not established
> or =16 years: <1.0 mcg/g of hair
Interpretation
​Hair grows at a rate of approximately 0.5 inch/month. Hair keratin synthesized today will protrude through the skin in approximately 1 week. Thus, a hair specimen collected at the skin level represents exposure of 1 week ago, 1 inch distally from the skin represents exposure 2 months ago, etc.
 
Hair arsenic levels above 1.00 mcg/g dry weight indicates excessive exposure. It is normal for some arsenic to be present in hair, as everybody is exposed to trace amounts of arsenic from the normal diet.
 
The highest hair arsenic observed at Mayo Clinic was 210 mcg/g dry weight in a case of chronic exposure that was the cause of death.
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Report Available Methodology/Instrumentation
Mayo Clinic Laboratories​
 Tuesday
2 to 7 days​
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)​
Reference Lab
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
​82175 ​ ​ ​ ​
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.