Arsenic Blood Test (Blood Arsenic) Biomarker Testing
It measures arsenic in your blood to assess recent exposure, with convenient ordering and clear results through Vitals Vault’s Quest network.
With Vitals Vault, you have access to a comprehensive range of biomarker tests.
An arsenic blood test measures how much arsenic is circulating in your bloodstream at the time of the draw. It is most useful for evaluating recent exposure, because arsenic moves out of blood relatively quickly compared with other tissues.
You might consider this test after a known exposure at work, a contaminated water concern, or a sudden cluster of symptoms that could fit toxic exposure. It can also be used to confirm that an exposure has resolved after you remove the source.
Because arsenic can come from different sources (including seafood), the most helpful results are interpreted alongside your recent diet, environment, and any companion testing your clinician recommends.
Do I need a Arsenic Blood test?
You may want an arsenic blood test if you are trying to answer a specific, time-sensitive question: “Was I exposed recently?” Blood testing is best when exposure may have happened in the last day or two, or when you are being evaluated urgently after a high-risk event.
Common reasons to test include a workplace or hobby exposure (smelting, mining, glass work, pesticide handling, pressure-treated wood, or electronics manufacturing), concern about well water, or a household exposure from certain traditional remedies or contaminated products. If you have new symptoms after a plausible exposure—such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, or unusual fatigue—testing can help your clinician decide what to do next.
If your concern is longer-term exposure (for example, months of well-water use), a urine arsenic test is often more informative than blood. Your clinician may also recommend testing other metals or checking kidney and liver function to understand how your body is handling the exposure.
This test supports clinician-directed care and exposure reduction planning, but it cannot diagnose a specific illness on its own.
This is a laboratory measurement performed in a CLIA-certified setting; results should be interpreted with your clinician in the context of symptoms, timing, and exposure history.
Lab testing
Order an Arsenic Blood test through Vitals Vault
Schedule online, results typically within about a week
Clear reporting and optional clinician context
HSA/FSA eligible where applicable
Get this test with Vitals Vault
Vitals Vault lets you order an arsenic blood test without needing to schedule a separate doctor visit first. You choose a nearby lab location, complete the draw, and then review your result in a clear, easy-to-follow format.
If your number is elevated or you are unsure what it means, PocketMD can help you think through the most likely exposure sources, whether recent seafood could be affecting the result, and what follow-up testing to discuss with your clinician (such as urine arsenic speciation or kidney function labs).
This test is also useful for retesting after you change a suspected source—like switching water supply or improving workplace protection—so you can confirm that your exposure is trending down.
- Order online and test at a local Quest location
- Clear results you can share with your clinician
- PocketMD support for next-step questions and retest planning
Key benefits of Arsenic Blood testing
- Helps assess very recent arsenic exposure when timing matters.
- Provides an objective data point to support exposure history and symptom evaluation.
- Can guide urgent next steps after a suspected high-dose exposure.
- Useful for confirming exposure reduction after removing a suspected source.
- Helps you decide whether urine arsenic testing or speciation is the right follow-up.
- Adds context when paired with kidney and liver function testing after toxic exposures.
- Gives you a shareable baseline result to discuss with your clinician using PocketMD guidance.
What is Arsenic Blood?
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in soil and water, and it can also be encountered through certain industrial processes and contaminated products. In the body, arsenic exists in different chemical forms. Some forms are more toxic (commonly referred to as inorganic arsenic and its metabolites), while others—especially forms found in seafood—tend to be less harmful.
A blood arsenic test measures the amount of arsenic present in a blood sample at the time of collection. Because arsenic is cleared from the bloodstream relatively quickly, blood testing is most sensitive to recent exposure. For longer-term or lower-level exposure assessment, urine testing is often preferred because it reflects arsenic excretion over a longer window.
Your result is typically reported as a concentration in the blood. The exact reference range and units can vary by lab, so interpretation should focus on whether your value is flagged and whether it fits your exposure timing, diet (especially seafood), and symptoms.
Blood vs. urine arsenic testing
Blood arsenic is most helpful for recent or acute exposure. Urine arsenic is commonly used to evaluate exposure over the past several days and is often paired with “speciation,” which helps distinguish seafood-related organic arsenic from more concerning inorganic forms.
Why seafood can complicate interpretation
Seafood can raise measured arsenic because it contains organic arsenic compounds that are usually less toxic. If you ate seafood in the day or two before your blood draw, tell your clinician, because it may explain a mild elevation and change what follow-up testing makes sense.
What do my Arsenic Blood results mean?
Low arsenic levels
A low or undetectable result generally suggests you did not have a meaningful recent arsenic exposure in the short window that blood testing captures. This is reassuring if your concern is an acute event in the last day or two. If you are worried about ongoing exposure over weeks to months, a low blood level does not rule that out, and urine testing may be a better next step.
Optimal (in-range) arsenic levels
An in-range result usually means your recent exposure is within what the lab considers typical for the general population. That said, “in range” does not automatically explain symptoms, and it does not always exclude chronic low-level exposure. If your exposure risk is high (for example, well water concerns or occupational exposure), ask whether urine arsenic with speciation and an environmental review would be more informative.
High arsenic levels
A high result suggests increased recent arsenic exposure and should be taken seriously, especially if you have symptoms or a clear exposure source. The next step is usually to confirm timing and sources (including seafood), review medications and supplements, and consider urine arsenic testing—often with speciation—to clarify the type of arsenic involved. Your clinician may also check kidney and liver function and advise immediate exposure reduction while the evaluation continues.
Factors that influence arsenic blood levels
Timing is the biggest factor: blood arsenic reflects recent exposure and can fall as arsenic is redistributed and eliminated. Recent seafood intake can raise measured arsenic and may not represent the more toxic inorganic forms. Workplace exposure, contaminated water, certain traditional remedies, and mislabeled supplements can also contribute. Kidney function and hydration can affect how your body clears arsenic, which is one reason follow-up labs are sometimes recommended.
What’s included
- Arsenic, Blood
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an arsenic blood test measure?
It measures the amount of arsenic present in your blood sample at the time of collection. Because arsenic clears from blood relatively quickly, the test is mainly used to assess recent exposure rather than long-term body burden.
Do I need to fast before an arsenic blood test?
Fasting is not usually required. However, recent seafood can affect arsenic measurements, so ask your clinician or the ordering instructions whether you should avoid seafood for 24–48 hours before testing if the goal is to evaluate inorganic (more toxic) exposure.
Is blood arsenic or urine arsenic better?
Blood arsenic is better for very recent or acute exposure questions. Urine arsenic is often better for evaluating exposure over the past several days and is commonly paired with speciation to distinguish seafood-related organic arsenic from more concerning inorganic forms.
Can seafood make my arsenic blood test high?
Yes. Seafood can increase measured arsenic due to organic arsenic compounds that are typically less toxic. If your result is elevated, your clinician may ask about recent seafood and may recommend urine arsenic speciation to clarify the source.
What symptoms are associated with arsenic exposure?
Symptoms depend on dose and timing. Acute exposure can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, and weakness. Longer-term exposure can be associated with skin changes, numbness or tingling, and other non-specific symptoms, which is why exposure history and the right test choice (blood vs urine) matter.
How soon after exposure should I test arsenic in blood?
Blood testing is most useful soon after a suspected exposure, often within the first day or two. If more time has passed, urine testing may provide a clearer picture of recent exposure over several days.
If my arsenic blood level is high, what should I do next?
Do not try to self-treat. Reduce potential exposure immediately (for example, stop using suspected water sources or products) and contact your clinician for next steps. Follow-up commonly includes urine arsenic testing (often with speciation), a review of diet and workplace risks, and sometimes kidney and liver function labs.