How to prepare
No fasting is required for this test. However, because seafood contains arsenic (particularly organic arsenic from shellfish and fish), high seafood consumption in the 48 to 72 hours before testing can temporarily elevate your blood arsenic reading. If accurate occupational or inorganic arsenic assessment is the goal, avoid large servings of seafood for two to three days before your blood draw and note your usual dietary habits on any forms provided.
This is a standard blood draw test. A small sample of blood is taken from a vein in your arm at the pathology centre.
After the test
Share your results with your doctor or a healthcare practitioner experienced in occupational health or environmental medicine. They can assess whether your arsenic level is clinically significant given your individual exposure history and diet.
If your result is elevated after accounting for seafood intake, your practitioner may investigate the source of exposure and consider further testing, including speciated arsenic testing to identify whether the arsenic is organic or inorganic.
If your result is within the reference range, it provides a useful baseline, particularly if you have ongoing occupational exposure or live in an area with elevated environmental arsenic.
Your test results will be available in your private dashboard. If there are any urgent issues, we'll let you know so you can follow up with your health professional.
Understanding results
Your result shows your blood arsenic concentration measured against the reference range for people without known excessive exposure.
A result within the reference range is consistent with typical background dietary and environmental exposure. Elevated results indicate higher arsenic than expected and may reflect recent occupational exposure, high dietary intake (particularly seafood consumed close to the test), contaminated water consumption, or other sources.
It is important to note that organic arsenic from seafood (arsenobetaine) is largely non-toxic and will still register on a total arsenic blood test. If your result is elevated and you consumed seafood recently, your practitioner may request arsenic speciation testing to distinguish between organic and inorganic forms, or ask you to retest after avoiding seafood.
Share your results with a qualified healthcare practitioner who can review them in the context of your dietary habits, exposure history, and any symptoms.
