Blood tests for heavy Metals -- which ones to order?

[pr40]

We need to test our kids for heavy metals but our pedi says she does not know which tests to order. So, please, if you had tested your kids for heavy metals, which tests did you do exactly?

thanks in advance

[sf_mom]

It is a urine test. Some Dr.'s use DMSA to challenge.... They provide 4 DMSA pills that are taken after first morning urine and then urine is collected over a 6 to 24 hour period. I did this type of challenge test. Our pediatrician did not do a challenge test with our children and only collected first morning urine. We used Dr.'s Data for the test and it was 'mostly' covered by insurance. Co-pay was still approximately $200.00 if I remember correctly.

[mama2alex]

I agree, a urine test is best. Heavy metals don't hang out in the blood and hair is unreliable. If your kids aren't good excreters and/or have problems with their methylation cycle, the metals may not show up in the urine without a chelator, so keep that in mind. Also, if your kids have any amalgam fillings, they should not take any chelator, such as DMSA, DMPS or EDTA, until the fillings have been safely removed. Amalgams are 49% mercury and the chelators will leach mercury from the fillings if they're left in.

 

If at all possible, I'd go to a DAN doctor for this. It's not straight-forward, and it's better to figure it out with a doctor who has experience in this area. (Sorry, I know that's probably not what you wanted to hear.)

 

A good book that talks about heavy metals and chelation is Children with Starving Brains: A Medical Treatment Guide for Autism Spectrum Disorder by Jaquelyn McCandless. When I was diagnosed with mercury poisoning in 2003, this is the only decent book I could find on the topic. It was heavy reading at the time, but very good. She has a 2009 edition out now.