Best heavy metal test kit for home use: 20 metals in one urine sample

The short answer

The best heavy metal test kit for home use covers the metals you are worried about, in a sample that suits them. This heavy metal test kit for home use measures 20 metals, including lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium, by ICP-MS in one creatinine-corrected urine sample, as part of a 133+ marker test that is HSA/FSA eligible.[1][6]

This at-home heavy metal test kit measures 20 metals in one urine sample, including mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium. It is part of one all-in-one test that also covers mold toxins, plastics chemicals, pesticides, PFAS and toxin genetics: 133+ markers for $1,999 per participant.[1][2]

Metals are measured by ICP-MS, and urine results are creatinine-corrected.[6]

How to choose a heavy metal test kit

Check these points before you order any heavy metal test kit:

• Which metals? Many kits cover four metals, often lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium. This panel lists 20 metals and elements.[1]
• Urine, blood or hair? Blood is the specimen ATSDR describes for lead.[3] ATSDR calls urine the most reliable test for arsenic exposure within the last few days, and urine cadmium the best estimate of the total amount in your body.[8][9] Hair and fingernails can show high arsenic exposure over the past 6 to 12 months.[8]
• Unprovoked or provoked? Use an unprovoked sample: medical toxicologists advise against post-chelator challenge urine testing.[7] Read provoked vs unprovoked heavy metal tests.
• Lab method. Ask how metals are measured. This test uses ICP-MS, and urine results are creatinine-corrected.[6]
• Ordering. Check whether you need a doctor’s order. You can order this test online yourself and collect your sample at home.[2]
• Cost. Compare what the price includes: metals only, or other categories and support after results. See heavy metal test cost.

When you are ready, order the Intrinsic Prism test.

The 20 metals we measure

Exactly as listed on our What we Test page; all are measured in urine. Linked names open a marker guide.[1]

Blood vs urine vs hair

• Blood is the specimen ATSDR describes for lead.[3]
• Urine panels report many metals from one collection; this test uses urine for all 20 metals.[1]
• Hair profiles are offered by some labs. This test does not use hair.

Results from different specimens are not interchangeable. If you retest, use the same specimen. For mercury, the form matters: EPA describes methylmercury (for example from fish) and inorganic mercury separately, and a urine result does not show which form you were exposed to.[4]

More: choosing an at-home heavy metal test, provoked vs unprovoked testing and heavy metal test cost.

Lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium: which test fits?

• Lead: ATSDR describes a blood test for lead, so a urine lead result is an exposure clue, not a replacement for a blood lead test.[3] See the lead urine test guide.
• Mercury: mercury can be measured in blood, urine, hair or toenails, but no test shows which form you were exposed to.[10] See the mercury urine test guide.
• Arsenic: urine is the most reliable test for arsenic exposure within the last few days.[8] See the arsenic urine test guide.
• Cadmium: urine cadmium is the best estimate of the total amount in your body and of exposure over time; blood reflects more recent exposure.[9] See the cadmium urine test guide.

No test, in any specimen, can predict whether you will have health problems.[8][10]

Heavy metal test types: quick FAQ

What is the difference between urine, blood and hair heavy metal tests?

A urine test reflects what your body excreted around the time you collected it, and one urine sample can report many metals at once. Blood is the specimen ATSDR describes for lead.[3] Hair and fingernails can show high arsenic exposure over the past 6 to 12 months.[8] Results from different specimens are not interchangeable. This test measures 20 metals in urine; it does not use hair.[1]

What is the difference between provoked and unprovoked urine testing?

An unprovoked test measures metals in urine as you normally excrete them. A provoked test collects urine after taking a chelating drug, which raises metal excretion in almost anyone, including essential metals such as zinc.[7] Medical toxicologists advise against post-chelator urine testing, and provoked results cannot be compared with normal reference values.[7]

Which type of test does Intrinsic Prism use for metals?

An unprovoked urine sample, ideally first-morning. Provocation is not required.[5] Metals are measured by ICP-MS, and urine results are creatinine-corrected.[6]

Can I compare results from different types of heavy metal test?

Not directly. Results from different specimens are not interchangeable, and provoked results cannot be compared with unprovoked reference values.[7] If you retest, use the same specimen type and laboratory method, and the same collection time and preparation.[12]

More: provoked vs unprovoked heavy metal tests.

How to prepare

• Use first-morning urine, before coffee, food or other drinks when possible.[5]
• Limit water in the hour before collecting so the sample is not over-diluted.[5]
• Avoid high-iodine and high-selenium foods for 48 hours. Fasting is optional.[5]
• Do not take a chelator or start a provocation protocol for the sample; medical toxicologists advise against post-chelator urine testing.[7]
• Do not stop prescribed medication without asking your prescriber, and follow the kit instructions.[5]

How to read your results

Your report organizes results by panel and compares each measurement with a reference population.[12]

• Units. Urine metal results are creatinine-corrected and shown per gram of creatinine (for example, micrograms per gram), so how much you drank does not distort them.[6]
• Reference population. Most markers use reference ranges from NHANES, the CDC’s national population survey; the remaining markers use an internal validation study of 1,000 adults. A reference range describes how common a level is in a population; it is not a safety limit.[11]
• Percentile band. Each result is placed in one of three bands: below the 75th percentile, 75th to 95th percentile, or above the 95th percentile. Below the 75th percentile does not mean zero exposure.[11]
• A snapshot. One sample reflects exposure around the time you collected it. A result does not by itself identify the food, product, building or date that caused the exposure, and a urine mercury result does not show which form of mercury you were exposed to.[10][11]
• Provoked samples read higher. The reference ranges describe unprovoked samples. If a chelating agent is taken before collection, levels can look higher than they would otherwise.[11]
• Not a diagnosis. A flag shows how a measurement compares with the laboratory’s reporting framework. It does not diagnose a condition or show that a metal is causing a symptom. For lead, a urine result is an exposure clue, not a replacement for a blood lead test.[3][12]

Your report also includes AI analytics, detailed explanations, potential exposure sources, a personalized protocol and 24/7 guidance to help you understand it.[2][12] Discuss your results with your healthcare provider.

More: how reference ranges and percentile bands work and understanding results and next steps.

The same test also covers mold, plastics, PFAS and more

The same urine sample also covers 29 mycotoxins and 38 environmental chemicals. The same kit adds a blood or serum sample for 21 PFAS and a DNA sample for 25 toxin-related genetic variants.[1] See the environmental toxin test overview.

Those environmental chemicals include 12 pesticide and herbicide markers; read about the pesticide test.

See the PFAS test and the plastic chemicals test pages.

Price, HSA/FSA and shipping

• $1,999 per participant, one-time. One all-in-one test: every test page on this site sells this same kit.
• HSA/FSA eligible. You receive an itemized invoice to claim reimbursement from your plan; your plan administrator decides. See how to claim.
• Free US shipping. Ships worldwide to most countries; availability is confirmed at checkout. The kit ships within 24 hours and a courier picks it up.

Frequently asked questions

Which heavy metals does the test measure?

20 metals and elements in urine: aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, cesium, gadolinium, lead, mercury, nickel, palladium, platinum, tellurium, thallium, thorium, tin, tungsten and uranium.

Is urine or blood better for a heavy metal test?

It depends on the metal and the question. ATSDR describes a blood test for lead; urine panels report many elements from one collection. Results from different specimens are not interchangeable, so retest with the same specimen.

Do I need to take a chelator before the test?

No. Provocation is not required, and medical toxicologists advise against post-chelator urine testing. Never start a chelation protocol just for the collection.

Can I order without a doctor?

Yes. You order online, collect your samples at home and a courier picks up the kit.

How much does the heavy metal test cost?

$1,999 per participant, one-time, for the whole all-in-one test: metals plus mycotoxins, environmental chemicals, PFAS and toxin genetics. HSA/FSA eligible (claim with the itemized invoice), with free US shipping.

Is the test FDA-cleared?

No. These are laboratory-developed tests and are not FDA-cleared. Results are educational, not a diagnosis; review them with your clinician.

What is the best heavy metal test kit for home use?

The one that covers the metals you are concerned about, in a suitable sample. Many kits cover four metals; this kit measures 20 metals, including lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium, by ICP-MS in one urine sample. For lead, ATSDR describes a blood test, so a urine lead result is an exposure clue.

Is hair analysis accurate for heavy metals?

Hair can show some exposures over months: ATSDR says hair and fingernail tests can measure exposure to high levels of arsenic over the past 6 to 12 months. Hair is not the specimen ATSDR describes for lead, and results from different specimens are not interchangeable. No test can predict whether you will have health problems. This test uses urine, not hair.

How do I test for heavy metals in my body at home?

Order an at-home kit, collect your sample at home and send it to the lab. This kit uses one urine sample, ideally first-morning, for 20 metals including lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium, and a courier picks up the kit. Do not take a chelator before collecting. For lead, ask your clinician about a blood lead test as well.

What does a heavy metal test cost?

This test is $1,999 per participant, one-time, for the whole 133+ marker test, not metals alone. It is HSA/FSA eligible: you receive an itemized invoice to claim reimbursement from your plan, and your plan administrator decides. For what to check when you compare prices, see our heavy metal test cost guide.