The human body relies on different types of components and nutrients for effective functioning. Among the many essential chemicals that are required for a healthy body, you would come across cobalt or CO. It is a necessary requirement for maintaining good health when consumed in the right amount. However, overexposure to cobalt might lead to negative consequences for your health.
At the same time, deficiency of cobalt also results in different health problems. The cobalt test is essential for checking the presence of cobalt in the bloodstream of an individual. Let us learn more about the importance of cobalt in the human body, how you can prepare for the test and the expected pricing of the test.
What is Cobalt?
Before you find more information about the test to measure cobalt levels in your body, it is vital to learn about cobalt itself. It is a naturally occurring element and helps in producing vitamin B12 or cobalamin which helps in ensuring effective nerve functioning. As a metal with magnetic properties and excellent strength, cobalt finds applications for industrial purposes. For example, cobalt salts are one of the essential ingredients required for the glass and pigment industry. In addition, cobalt is also used for manufacturing hard allowances that serve as components in joint prosthesis devices.
Why Do You Need a Cobalt Test?
People who work in industries that use products containing cobalt are more likely to be vulnerable to overexposure to cobalt. Depending on the type of contact, people may exhibit different symptoms such as breathing complications, skin irritation, heart problems, coughing and nerve injury.
If the workplace environment contains cobalt in any form, then a cobalt test is recommended when an individual suspects exposure to cobalt. The test is suitable for patients who experience symptoms such as nerve problems, thyroid problems or cardiomyopathy. The cobalt urine test is helpful for confirming cobalt toxicity in an individual.
How Can You Identify Cobalt Toxicity?
Cobalt is an essential micronutrient that is essential for the production of vitamin B12 in our bodies. We can consume cobalt in our diet, primarily through animal products. However, almost 85% of the cobalt we consume is expelled through the urine, and the remaining is removed from the body through stool. The recommended consumption of cobalt in the diet is almost 280 µg per day.
The Cobalt test can help in detecting toxic ingestion of cobalt or exposure to cobalt. You can find two distinct types of tests for detecting the presence of cobalt in your body. The first test is the cobalt blood test, and the second one is the cobalt urine test. The blood test could help in the evaluation of occupational exposure to cobalt. On the other hand, the urine test is also another effective tool for determining cobalt toxicity.
How Can You Determine that You Need a Cobalt Test?
- You should prepare for a cobalt test when you suspect that you have been exposed to cobalt at the workplace. It is also recommended for people who suspect that they have consumed toxic amounts of cobalt. How could you identify such conditions?
- Overexposure to cobalt would manifest in the form of different symptoms in our body. The common symptoms of cobalt poisoning include coughing, difficulty in breathing and skin rashes or irritation. Severe symptoms may emerge in the form of nerve damage or cardiac problems alongside complaints of pulmonary fibrosis.
- People who have experienced cobalt ingestion also showed symptoms such as chest pain, irregular heartbeat, joint pain, weakness and headache. Other complicated symptoms of cobalt toxicity include memory loss, seizures and difficulty concentrating. Some patients have also complained of blood thickening due to their exposure to cobalt.
How Should You Prepare for a Cobalt Test?
You can prepare for the cobalt blood and urine test by consulting a professional diagnostic service provider or doctor. It is essential to follow the instructions to prepare for the cobalt test effectively so that you can get accurate results. Patients must stop consuming vitamin supplements, such as vitamin B complex and vitamin B12, as well as mineral supplements and other unnecessary medicines.
Patients must also avoid the administration of contrast media containing high concentrations of gadolinium or iodine before the test. In such cases, doctors would recommend collection of the specimen after 96 hours.
Doctors may also recommend fasting for a few hours before the test in certain cases where they have to use the blood sample for other tests. You should wear a short-sleeved shirt on the day of the test.
Also Read: Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
What is the Procedure for the Cobalt Test?
The blood test for evaluating cobalt exposure would require a specimen of 7ml. You can avail of the test at a doctor’s clinic, a medical centre or a diagnostic service centre. The lab technician would use an alcohol pad to clean the skin and make sure that they see the vein. The technician would inject a needle through the vein and draw blood in the collecting tube.
For the evaluation of urine in the cobalt test, you would have to collect a sample of 5 ml in a plastic container without any preservatives. You can expect the results of the cobalt blood and urine test on the next day. The reference value for cobalt results for normal people is less than 1.8 µg per litre. In the case of people with metal-on-metal implants, the concentration of cobalt should be less than ten µg per litre.
How Much Should You Pay for the Cobalt Test?
The cost of a cobalt test could vary between 3500 INR and 4900 INR, depending on the diagnostic service provider. Some of the other factors that determine the cost of the test include the quality of the test and the availability of technicians.
Final Words
The importance of cobalt as a micronutrient does not undermine the fact that overexposure to cobalt can lead to severe health complications. Therefore, you should know about the symptoms of cobalt ingestion or exposure to find out when you need the cobalt blood test. You can rely on professional diagnostic services by reliable agencies such as Agilus Diagnostics for accurate assessment of cobalt exposure. Take the first step to protect yourself from cobalt with precise and high-quality diagnostic services right now.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
