Mercury (Hair) Test

There is no special preparation required for undergoing this test. Just make sure you don’t use any hair products like hair gel, hair serum, and similar hair products prior to the test. If you have any concerns or undergoing any other treatment, then you should disclose all your relevant details to your doctor. This will help in sharing the required information from the doctor’s end.

As already discussed, the mercury (hair) test is used to detect the mercury levels in your body through hair specimens. The normal mercury levels in the body is <10 ng/mL, so by seeing the results you can conclude the following points.

If the mercury levels are very high, then you may be subjected to some grave disease. In case, you are work involves working in an environment where you are open to mercury to some extent, then mercury levels up to 15 ng/mL can be considered to be normal. Any level above this can be treated to be harmful. If the mercury levels are within 10 ng/mL, then you are completely fine. However, it is better to consult a doctor for precise report interpretation.

The test procedure is very simple and will take few minutes of your time. You just need to sit steady and the medical practitioner will do his part. The cutting surfaces of a stainless-steel scissor and a plastic comb is cleaned with an alcohol wipe. The person taking the test will wear powder-free gloves while taking the hair sample. A bundle of hair, approximately the size of a pencil eraser, is cut from the occipital region of the head. The bundle of hair is cut as close to the scalp as possible and sealed in a ziplock bag with your name on it. It is then sent to the laboratory for examination. The test reports will be made available to you within 2-5 days after the test.