# How our test is measured Source page: https://intrinsicprism.com/learn/testing-methodology ## In short Each group of markers is measured with the laboratory method suited to it. Heavy metals are measured by **ICP-MS** (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). Mycotoxins (mold toxins) and environmental chemicals, including PFAS, are measured by **LC-MS/MS** (liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry).[[1]](#source-1) Urine results are creatinine-corrected so that how much you drank does not distort them. In total the test reports **133+ markers**. Last reviewed: October 25, 2026. Prepared by Intrinsic Prism, which sells an at-home toxin test. For how a result is compared with other people, see [How results are interpreted](https://intrinsicprism.com/learn/reference-ranges). ## Heavy metals: ICP-MS Heavy metals are measured by ICP-MS.[[1]](#source-1) It is a standard technique for measuring metals and other elements at very low levels. - **Plasma.** The prepared sample is fed into an extremely hot plasma, which breaks it down into individual charged atoms. - **Mass spectrometry.** Those atoms are sorted by mass, so each metal is counted separately from the others. - **Quantification.** The signal for each metal is compared with known standards to give a concentration. Because every element has its own mass, one run can report many metals at once. ## Mold toxins and environmental chemicals: LC-MS/MS Mycotoxins and environmental chemicals, including PFAS, are measured by LC-MS/MS.[[1]](#source-1) These are larger molecules than metals, so they are measured differently. - **Liquid chromatography (LC).** The sample is pushed through a column that separates its compounds, so they reach the detector at different times. - **Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).** Two mass filters work in sequence: the first picks out a molecule of the expected mass, it is broken into fragments, and the second checks for the fragments that molecule should produce. Requiring both the right molecule and the right fragments helps tell apart compounds that look alike, such as closely related mold toxins. PFAS chemicals on our panel are measured in a blood or serum sample; the other chemicals and the mold toxins are measured in urine. ## Why urine results are creatinine-corrected The same person can produce very dilute urine after drinking a lot of water and much more concentrated urine first thing in the morning. Without an adjustment, a result could look higher or lower simply because of hydration. Creatinine is a normal waste product that the body releases into urine at a fairly steady rate. Dividing each urine result by the amount of creatinine in the same sample adjusts for how dilute or concentrated it was. That is why urine results are shown per gram of creatinine (for example, micrograms per gram) rather than per liter of urine. Follow the timing and collection instructions in your kit; see [how to prepare for a urine toxin test](https://intrinsicprism.com/learn/how-to-prepare-for-urine-toxin-test). ## What is covered: 133+ markers The test reports 133+ markers across heavy metals, mold toxins, PFAS and other environmental chemicals, plus toxin genetics. The genetic markers are read from a DNA sample and describe inherited differences, not exposure. See the full list on [What we Test](https://intrinsicprism.com/what-we-test). ## Who runs the samples Samples are run by our partner laboratory in the US. The laboratory is CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited and compliant with New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) regulations.[[1]](#source-1) - **CLIA** is the federal certification for US laboratories that test human specimens. - **CAP accreditation** comes from the College of American Pathologists’ laboratory inspection program. - **NYSDOH** sets its own laboratory standards for New York. **About these tests.** These are laboratory-developed tests. The laboratory that runs them determined their performance characteristics. They are not FDA-cleared. Results are educational, not a diagnosis. ## See a report and order Want to see how results are laid out? Open [What we Test](https://intrinsicprism.com/what-we-test) and select **Sample Report**; we email you a secure link to the sample report. Next, read [How results are interpreted](https://intrinsicprism.com/learn/reference-ranges) to see how each result is compared with a reference population and what the three percentile bands mean. [Order your kit](https://intrinsicprism.com/buy) ## FAQ How are heavy metals measured? : Heavy metals are measured by ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). The sample is broken down into charged atoms in a very hot plasma, and a mass spectrometer counts each metal separately by its mass. How are mold toxins and PFAS measured? : Mycotoxins (mold toxins) and environmental chemicals, including PFAS, are measured by LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry). Liquid chromatography separates the compounds, and two mass filters in sequence confirm each one by its mass and its fragments. What does creatinine-corrected mean? : Urine results are divided by the amount of creatinine in the same sample. This adjusts for how dilute or concentrated the urine was, so hydration does not distort the result. Who analyzes the samples? : Our partner laboratory in the US, which is CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited and NYSDOH compliant. Is the test FDA-cleared? : No. These are laboratory-developed tests, and the laboratory determined their performance characteristics. They are not FDA-cleared. Results are educational, not a diagnosis. ## Sources Every link was checked on October 25, 2026. The wording on this page is our own summary. 1. [1] Partner lab technical document: Total Tox Burden Checked 2026-10-25. 2. [2] Partner lab article: Provocation considerations Checked 2026-10-25.