Heavy Metal Testing
Low-level exposure to metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium can build up over years. Common sources include older homes, private well water, some fish, certain imported products and work exposures. Signs can be vague, such as fatigue, brain fog, tingling, mood changes or hormone and blood pressure problems.
Which Sample, and Why
Different samples answer different questions, so I choose based on your history:
- Urine metals testing — shows metals your body is currently excreting, plus essential minerals
- Hair mineral analysis — a longer-term look at metal and mineral patterns, useful for screening
- Stool metals testing — reflects metals leaving through the gut, and is easy for children
- Blood testing — best for recent or ongoing exposure, such as lead
Tests I Commonly Use
I choose each test from the specialty lab best suited to your situation, so the exact panels vary from patient to patient.
- Heavy Metals panel (Vibrant Wellness) — urine testing for toxic metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium and aluminum, along with essential minerals
- Toxin Zoomer (Vibrant Wellness) — includes the same heavy metals panel plus mycotoxins, environmental chemicals and PFAS in one urine test, at a bundled price, when other exposures may also be part of the picture
- Hair, stool or blood metal testing from other specialty labs when that sample better answers your question
Brand names link to each lab’s own sample report (PDF), so you can see what a results report looks like. Your actual panel may differ, because I choose tests for each patient individually.
How I Use the Results
Results guide a safe, stepwise plan: first stop ongoing exposure, then support your elimination pathways and restore essential minerals, and only then, when testing clearly supports it, consider more active detox under supervision. Retesting shows progress. Read more in Heavy Metal Toxicity.
Ready to Find Out What Your Body Needs?
Testing is most useful when it is chosen for your specific symptoms and history. I see patients in person in Norwalk, CT, serving Fairfield County and the NYC metro area, and by telehealth for Connecticut residents.
Meet Dr. Jamie Ahn
Dr. Jamie Ahn is a Board Certified Naturopathic Physician in Norwalk, Connecticut, specializing in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like ALS, MS, dementia, Parkinson’s, and toxin-related conditions with the helps of Naturopathic and Functional Medicine approaches. Her proven approach is rooted in comprehensive lab testing that go deep into uncovering the toxicities and deficiencies contributing to these complex diseases.