Quick Facts
- Sample: Dried urine spots
- Fasting: No fasting required
- Turn-around: 5-7 business days once the lab receives the specimen. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
Benefits
- Detect toxic heavy metals like arsenic, mercury, and cadmium before they cause health problems
- Monitor essential nutrients including iodine and selenium critical for thyroid function
- Convenient at-home collection with no clinic visits or bulky urine jugs required
- Comprehensive health insights from dried urine analysis with 90%+ accuracy (ZRT Lab 2024)
- Proactive health management to prevent chronic diseases linked to toxic exposure
Who Is This Test For?
- Individuals with unexplained fatigue, cognitive issues, or hormonal imbalances
- People concerned about environmental toxin exposure from water, seafood, or industrial sources
- Those with thyroid symptoms seeking comprehensive element analysis
- Health-conscious consumers wanting preventive screening without physician referral
- Anyone investigating nutritional deficiencies affecting metabolic health
- Individuals needing to monitor detoxification protocol effectiveness
How It Works – Just 3 Steps
- Order your kit online and receive everything needed for at-home collection
- Collect dried urine spots on provided filter paper following simple instructions
- Ship with prepaid label and receive confidential results within 5-7 business days
FAQ
What elements does this test measure? It analyzes toxic metals (arsenic, mercury, cadmium) and essential elements (iodine, selenium, lithium, bromine) plus creatinine for accuracy.
Do I need to fast before collecting my sample? No fasting required, but avoid excessive mineral supplements 48 hours before collection for accurate results.
How accurate is dried urine testing compared to blood tests? Dried urine analysis demonstrates sensitivity and specificity above 90% for detecting toxic element burden (ZRT Lab 2024).
Can this test help with thyroid health assessment? Yes, because iodine and selenium are critical for thyroid hormone synthesis, while toxic metals can disrupt thyroid function.
What happens if my results show elevated toxic metals? Consult your healthcare provider for interpretation and potential interventions like dietary changes or detoxification protocols.
How long do results take and who reviews them? Results typically arrive within 5-7 days.
More Details
What is the purpose of this test?
This test detects toxic heavy metals and assesses essential nutrient levels that impact health, particularly thyroid function and metabolic processes. It identifies whether you have dangerous exposure to elements like arsenic, mercury, and cadmium, while also measuring vital nutrients like iodine and selenium your body needs to function properly.
The test helps healthcare providers understand if toxic element exposure or nutritional imbalances could be contributing to symptoms like fatigue, cognitive issues, or hormonal dysfunction. Early detection allows for targeted interventions before chronic health problems develop.
Who would benefit from this test?
Individuals with potential heavy metal exposure, thyroid symptoms, nutritional deficiencies, or those seeking preventive health insights benefit most from this testing. People experiencing unexplained fatigue, memory problems, or hormonal imbalances often find valuable answers through element analysis.
Those with known exposure risks—such as well water consumption, frequent seafood intake, or industrial workplace exposure—should consider regular monitoring. Health-conscious consumers wanting proactive screening without requiring physician orders also find this direct-to-consumer option convenient and informative.
When should I order this test?
Order when experiencing unexplained fatigue, cognitive issues, or hormonal imbalances that could indicate toxic exposure or nutritional deficiencies. Consider testing after known exposure to environmental toxins through contaminated water, seafood consumption, or industrial pollutants.
Testing is also valuable for individuals investigating thyroid-related symptoms, since both toxic metals and essential element imbalances significantly impact thyroid function. Preventive-minded consumers may order annually to monitor their exposure levels and nutritional status proactively.
How do I interpret the results?
Results show your element levels compared to optimal ranges established by clinical research. The report includes reference ranges to help you understand what your levels mean for your health.
Elevated toxic metals
- What it means: Recent or ongoing exposure to harmful elements
- Typical action: Investigate exposure sources, consider detoxification
Low essential elements
- What it means: Nutritional deficiencies affecting metabolism
- Typical action: Dietary changes, targeted supplementation
High essential elements
- What it means: Possible over-supplementation or excess intake
- Typical action: Reduce supplements, monitor symptoms
Optimal ranges
- What it means: Healthy balance supporting normal function
- Typical action: Maintain current lifestyle and diet
Heavy metal exposure affects approximately 10-15% of the U.S. population, with early detection improving outcomes and reducing healthcare costs (CDC 2023).
Disclaimer: Reference ranges may vary by laboratory. Listed ranges are general guidelines and may differ from those used by the performing lab. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.
Pre-test preparation
No fasting is required for this test. Avoid excessive supplementation of minerals like iodine or selenium for 48 hours before collection to ensure accurate baseline measurements. Limit seafood consumption and avoid known heavy metal exposure sources prior to testing.
Follow the provided collection instructions carefully, allowing urine spots to dry completely on the filter paper before packaging. Proper preparation ensures reliable results.
How often should I get tested?
Testing frequency depends on your individual risk factors, symptoms, and exposure history. Regular monitoring helps track changes over time and evaluate intervention effectiveness.
- High-risk exposure (occupational, environmental): Every 6 months
- Thyroid symptoms or treatment monitoring: Every 6–12 months
- Preventive health screening: Annually
- After detoxification protocols: 3–6 months post-treatment
- Following dietary or supplement changes: 3–6 months
Why early detection matters
Chronic exposure to toxic metals like arsenic, mercury, and cadmium increases risk of dementia, diabetes, infertility, and cancer (Johns Hopkins 2023). Early detection allows for intervention before irreversible health damage occurs.
Essential element imbalances also impact multiple body systems, particularly thyroid function and metabolic processes. Identifying deficiencies or excesses early enables targeted treatment to restore optimal health and prevent chronic disease development.
Related tests you may consider
Thyroid #4 Comprehensive Blood Test Panel – Checks several important hormones, antibodies, and proteins to give a full picture of how well your thyroid is working, helping detect issues like thyroid disorders and autoimmune diseases.
Heavy Metals Profile I Blood Test – Checks for harmful levels of metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic to help identify exposure that may cause fatigue, memory issues, or digestive problems and guide you in managing your health.
Mineral Deficiency Blood Test Panel – Checks for low levels of important minerals like iron, magnesium, zinc, and copper to help find out if you're missing any nutrients that your body needs for energy, strong bones, a healthy immune system, and clear thinking.
