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Cobalt Blood Test

Name: Cobalt Blood Test
Brand: Bloody Good
Price: 84.7 AUD
Availability: InStock

$84.70 AUD

Do you have a metal-on-metal hip replacement, or are you concerned about cobalt exposure at work?

Measures blood cobalt levels. Essential component of vitamin B12 but toxic in excess. Used to monitor metal-on-metal hip implant wear and occupational exposure in hard metal industries.

You will be emailed a referral to take to your local collection centre. If you ever have any questions, we're here to help.

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Private health tests

How It Works

Getting your health measured shouldn't be hard! We're here to help you every step of the way.

Order a test

Order the private test that suits you and your goals. After ordering, you will receive your referral by email.

Collect the sample

Attend one of our 4000+ partner collection centres throughout Australia. Search locations.

Receive your results

View all your lab results in your secure health dashboard. Easy!

Overview

The Cobalt Blood Test measures the concentration of cobalt in your blood.

Cobalt has two distinct sources in clinical testing. The first is metal-on-metal hip replacements: older and some current prostheses use a cobalt-chromium alloy, and as the bearing surfaces wear, cobalt ions are released. Regular blood cobalt monitoring is recommended for people with these implants by orthopaedic guidelines, as elevated levels may indicate increased wear and can prompt further investigation of implant performance.

The second is occupational exposure: workers in hard metal (cemented carbide) manufacturing, diamond polishing, and some mining and metallurgical processes may inhale cobalt dust and fumes. Periodic monitoring through blood testing is common in these industries.

Cobalt is also an essential component of vitamin B12 (cobalamin), but this test measures total cobalt, not B12 levels. A separate test is needed to assess B12 status.

This test is most often ordered by orthopaedic surgeons, occupational physicians, or GPs reviewing implant-related symptoms.

Symptoms

This test suits you if you have a metal-on-metal hip replacement and your orthopaedic surgeon or GP has requested or recommended periodic cobalt monitoring, you have symptoms such as pain, swelling, or other changes around a hip implant and your practitioner wants to check your cobalt levels, you work in hard metal manufacturing, diamond polishing, mining, or other industries with cobalt dust or fume exposure, or your practitioner has requested cobalt testing as part of a broader metals or occupational health investigation.

Questions

It measures the total cobalt concentration in your blood. This can reflect cobalt released from a metal-on-metal hip implant, occupational cobalt exposure, or other environmental sources.
Metal-on-metal hip implants use a cobalt-chromium alloy for the bearing surfaces. As these surfaces move against each other over time, microscopic wear particles and metal ions are released. Cobalt ions can be absorbed into the bloodstream and surrounding tissue. Monitoring blood cobalt helps track whether wear is occurring at an expected or elevated rate.
Testing frequency depends on your implant type, your symptoms, and your orthopaedic surgeon's recommendations. Current guidance from orthopaedic bodies typically recommends at least annual monitoring for metal-on-metal hip resurfacing patients and those with large-diameter metal-on-metal total hip replacements. Your surgeon can advise the right schedule for you.
Cobalt is a component of vitamin B12 (cobalamin), but this test measures total cobalt in blood, not B12 levels. If you want to check your B12 status, a separate B12 blood test is needed.
Share your result with the practitioner managing your care, particularly your orthopaedic surgeon if the concern relates to a hip implant. They will assess whether the level is within an acceptable range for your implant type and determine whether further investigation is needed.

Dr. Vu Tran
Bloody Good’s Chief Medical Officer

No biomarkers found for this product.

How to prepare

No fasting is required. You can eat and drink normally before your blood draw.

This is a standard blood draw test. A small sample of blood is taken from a vein in your arm at the pathology centre.

If you have a hip replacement, bring any relevant implant documentation to your appointment if your practitioner has requested it. Note the make and model of your implant on any forms provided, as this can help with interpreting your result.

After the test

Share your results with the relevant healthcare practitioner. For implant monitoring, this is typically your orthopaedic surgeon or the GP coordinating your implant follow-up. For occupational exposure, share results with your occupational physician or workplace health team.

If your cobalt level is elevated in the context of a hip implant, your orthopaedic surgeon will decide whether additional imaging, implant review, or other assessment is warranted. They may also recommend more frequent monitoring.

If your result is within the expected range, it provides a useful data point for ongoing monitoring. Cobalt levels in implant patients are often tracked over time to detect trends rather than relying on a single reading.

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 cobalt concentration measured against the reference range for people without known excessive exposure.

For the general population without metal implants, blood cobalt levels are typically very low. For people with metal-on-metal hip replacements, reference levels are often discussed in the context of implant-specific guidance rather than population reference ranges. Various orthopaedic bodies have published threshold levels above which more detailed investigation of implant wear is recommended. Your orthopaedic surgeon will interpret your result within this framework.

For occupational exposure monitoring, results are compared against reference ranges and occupational exposure benchmarks relevant to your industry.

Share your results with your healthcare practitioner, particularly the specialist managing your implant or your occupational physician.

Testimonials

What Our Customers Say

4.9

Average Rating

5,500+ Customers Tested

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Adam O. ACT

Simple health checks in my control

I didn't know that private blood tests were an option. Tried this platform as the packages suited what I wanted for a good price. Easy to follow instructions, and super quick results. Platform provides more information than my gp's ever have on the tests and what the results meant. Would like more clinics to be able to test at (specifically Capital Pathology) but there is a decent network. Will continue to use.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to book ahead?

Most collection centres accept walk-ins. Some may require a booking - check details when you click on your chosen location.

How do I know if I need to fast?

If your test needs fasting, we’ll include that in your instructions after you order. Fasting usually means no food for 8–12 hours, but water is fine.

What do I need to bring?

Just your pathology referral form (we email it to you)

Can I bring someone with me?

Of course. Just maybe don’t bring the friend who faints at the sight of blood.

What’s a phlebotomist?

They’re the highly trained professionals who take your blood sample - with a steady hand and a sharp needle. They love blood, but don’t worry… they’re not vampires. Just legends who make blood tests quick, clean, and (almost) painless.

What other samples may I need to provide for my test?

Some of our tests include Urine, Stool, Saliva and more. Each test will have a clear description on what sample you will need to give and instructions on how.