Quick Facts
- Sample: Dried urine
- Fasting: Not required
- Turn-around: 7–10 business days after lab receipt. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
Benefits
- Detect hidden heavy-metal exposure from water, diet, or environment using gold-standard ICP-MS technology
- Assess essential nutrients like iodine and selenium that directly support thyroid and metabolic health
- Convenient at-home collection with dried urine strips—no 24-hour jug or clinic visit required
- Track progress over time with repeat testing to monitor detoxification or supplementation effectiveness
- Private, direct access to advanced testing while enabling follow-up care with your provider
Who Is This Test For?
- People using well water, living in older homes, or working in industrial environments
- Individuals with thyroid concerns, fatigue, or unexplained cognitive symptoms seeking root-cause evaluation
- Those taking iodine or selenium supplements who want to confirm optimal levels
- High seafood or rice consumers concerned about arsenic or mercury exposure
- Anyone pursuing preventive health screening for toxic metals and nutritional adequacy
How It Works – Just 3 Steps
- Collect at home — Saturate filter strips with urine (morning and evening), then air-dry completely
- Mail your sample — Place dried strips in the prepaid envelope and ship to the lab
- Review your results — Access your detailed report online within 7–10 days and share with your provider
FAQ
What does this test measure? The U-327 panel measures toxic metals (arsenic, cadmium, mercury) and essential elements (iodine, selenium, lithium, bromine) plus creatinine to adjust for urine concentration.
Is dried urine as accurate as regular urine testing? Yes—dried urine on filter paper provides accuracy comparable to liquid urine and offers better stability for weeks at room temperature (ZRT Laboratory).
How soon will I get my results? Results are typically available online within 7–10 business days after the lab receives your sample.
Do I need to fast before collecting my sample? No fasting is required, but follow kit instructions for timing and continue regular medications unless directed otherwise by your clinician.
What if my results are abnormal? Discuss abnormal findings with a healthcare provider who can evaluate the need for additional testing, exposure mitigation, or treatment.
Can I use this test if I'm pregnant? Yes, monitoring iodine and toxic metals can be valuable during pregnancy, but consult your provider before ordering.
More Details
What is the purpose of this test?
The U-327 panel uses inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)—a highly sensitive method—to measure very low concentrations of toxic and essential elements in dried urine. ICP-MS ionizes your sample and separates ions by mass-to-charge ratio, allowing precise quantification of multiple elements in a single run (ZRT Laboratory). This test evaluates recent exposure to toxic metals (arsenic, cadmium, mercury) and the status of key essential elements (iodine, selenium, lithium, bromine), helping identify both toxic overload and nutrient deficiency or excess.
Who would benefit from this test?
People with potential environmental exposure (well water, older homes, industrial areas, high seafood or rice intake), individuals with thyroid or hormonal concerns, and those taking iodine or selenium supplements who want to avoid deficiency or toxicity may benefit. The CDC's Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals (2024) has documented detectable levels of multiple toxic metals in the general population, underscoring how widespread low-level exposure is (CDC 2024). Iodine deficiency remains the leading cause of preventable intellectual disability globally, making monitoring relevant when deficiency or excess is suspected (American Thyroid Association 2021, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements 2023).
When should I order this test?
It is reasonable to order U-327 when you have ongoing non-specific symptoms (fatigue, cognitive changes, thyroid symptoms), known or suspected heavy-metal exposure, or when starting or intensifying iodine or selenium supplementation and needing a baseline or follow-up measurement. Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic is linked to increased risks of skin, bladder, and lung cancers and cardiovascular disease, and risk rises with cumulative exposure, highlighting the value of assessing and reducing exposure early (CDC 2024). Clinical decisions should always be reviewed with a healthcare provider.
How do I interpret the results?
The report compares your values with reference ranges and flags low, optimal, or high levels using visual graphics and clinician-generated comments. Abnormal results should be interpreted in the context of symptoms, diet, and exposure history in consultation with a qualified provider.
Toxic metals (high):
- What it means: Significant exposure or increased body burden
- Typical action: Investigate environmental sources; consider mitigation or chelation with specialist guidance
Iodine (low):
- What it means: Inadequate intake or absorption
- Typical action: Evaluate diet; consider iodized salt or supplementation under provider supervision
Iodine (high):
- What it means: Excessive supplementation or dietary intake
- Typical action: Reduce iodine sources; retest to avoid thyroid dysfunction
Selenium (low):
- What it means: Deficiency affecting thyroid and antioxidant function
- Typical action: Increase selenium-rich foods (e.g., nuts, seafood) or supplement as advised
Selenium (high):
- What it means: Excessive supplementation with risk of toxicity
- Typical action: Discontinue high-dose supplements; monitor levels closely
Selenium status has a U-shaped relationship with health: both deficiency and excess are associated with thyroid dysfunction and other adverse outcomes (NIH ODS 2023).
Pre-test preparation
Follow the kit instructions about timing; most dried-urine protocols use two collections (typically morning and evening). Avoid collecting during acute illness when possible, because dehydration or temporary dietary changes may affect results. Unless directed otherwise by your clinician, continue regular medications, but discuss chelation agents, high-dose supplements (especially iodine, selenium, lithium), and contrast dyes, as they can transiently alter element levels.
How often should I get tested?
- Baseline screening (no symptoms): Every 1–2 years or as part of a preventive health evaluation
- Active supplementation (iodine, selenium): Every 3–6 months initially, then annually once stable
- Known toxic-metal exposure or ongoing treatment: Every 3–12 months, depending on severity and provider guidance
- Thyroid disorder or chronic symptoms: Every 6–12 months, or as recommended by your clinician
Why early detection matters
The World Health Organization and U.S. agencies recognize that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified, and even low-level exposure is associated with neurodevelopmental harm (USPSTF 2022). Early identification of toxic-metal exposure allows for source investigation and mitigation before cumulative harm occurs. Similarly, detecting iodine or selenium imbalances early helps prevent thyroid dysfunction, metabolic issues, and other adverse outcomes. For health-conscious consumers, U-327 offers an at-home way to evaluate hidden exposure to heavy metals and to check whether intake of critical nutrients is too low or excessively high, generating data that clinicians can use for follow-up care.
Related tests you may consider
Heavy Metals Profile I (Blood) — Measures clinically significant toxic metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium to assess recent or ongoing exposure that may contribute to neurologic, renal, or endocrine symptoms.
Heavy Metals Profile I (Urine) — Evaluates metal excretion patterns to help identify body burden and detoxification status, providing a functional complement to essential-element testing.
Iodine, 24-Hr Urine — Assesses iodine sufficiency, a critical micronutrient for thyroid hormone synthesis and metabolic regulation.
