Blood draw
Vanadium (blood)
Measures vanadium in your blood, as a measure of exposure. With work involving vanadium, the urine test is usually the better choice.
€ 78,00
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Metals, toxins and medication · Blood
Vanadium (blood)
Vanadium in blood says something about exposure to vanadium; with work involving vanadium, urine is the more usual measure.
At a glance
- Measured in blood
- In 1 test panel
- No special preparation
Explanation
Vanadium (blood): what is measured?
The analysis measures how much vanadium is in your blood. Vanadium is a metal found in soil, in some iron ores and in crude oil, and is used to make steel stronger and more rust-resistant. It is released when fuel oil and coal are burned. Most people take in vanadium mainly through food, but the gut absorbs it poorly.
What can it detect?
- Exposure to vanadium at work, for example in steel production or when burning fuel oil
- A high intake through vanadium supplements
Result
What does the result mean?
Vanadium (blood) too high
A raised value fits recent exposure to vanadium, for example at work, or vanadium supplements. Tobacco smoke and seafood can also contribute. According to the ATSDR, breathing in a lot of vanadium pentoxide can damage the lungs, and some vanadium compounds can cause nausea, mild diarrhea and stomach cramps. According to the ATSDR, the measurement cannot predict whether harm will occur.
Vanadium (blood) too low
A low or unmeasurable value is normal. There is no known vanadium deficiency in humans, so a low result does not call for supplementation.
After an abnormal result
With a raised result, the GP looks for the source, such as work or supplements, together with the occupational physician if needed, and has the measurement repeated if needed.
Reliability
How reliable is the test?
Vanadium in blood is mainly informative with known exposure; in people without known exposure, a single value says little. With work involving vanadium, vanadium in urine is the more usual measure. According to the ATSDR, the measurement can show exposure, but not whether this causes harm.
What can affect the result?
- Vanadium supplements, such as vanadyl sulfate, raise the value.
- Contamination during the blood draw can raise the result.
- There are no agreed cutoff values; the limit between normal and raised comes from the laboratory itself.
Who it is for
Who is the test useful for?
Useful for
Useful with known exposure to vanadium at work, usually in consultation with the occupational physician. In people without symptoms and without known exposure, the measurement adds nothing.
How common is it?
According to the RIVM, vanadium was present in building materials used in Drenthe to reinforce cycle paths; this vanadium causes no health risk for people who use the cycle paths. According to the ATSDR, most people take in vanadium mainly through food. There are no Dutch figures on exposure at work or on poisoning.
The RIVM (Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) and ATSDR
Drawbacks and risks
- A slightly raised value without symptoms easily leads to worry and to unnecessary follow-up testing.
Get tested
Vanadium (blood): test panels
Vanadium (blood) is part of these test panels. You order online and have your blood drawn at a collection point or collect the sample at home.
Evidence
Sources
This explanation is based on Dutch guidelines and independent information. It is general information, not a diagnosis. Discuss an abnormal result with your GP.
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