Offer - Urjas Oil for just ₹ 1 X

Offer - Urjas Oil for just ₹ 1 X

  1. myUpchar
  2. Tests
  3. Aluminum Blood Test

What is Aluminium Blood test? 

Aluminium is a mineral present in the body without a clear biological role. It enters the body through food (the daily intake of aluminium from diet ranges from five to 10 milligrams), water, medicines and through skin. Normally, all of this aluminium is excreted in the urine. However, regular and long term exposure to this metal may make it difficult for the body to excrete it out completely. This excess aluminium then starts to accumulate in various tissues, particularly in bones, brain and parathyroid glands, leading to aluminium toxicity. 

Mineworkers or people who work in aluminium industry are at high risk of toxicity from this metal

Additionally, patients with kidney damage are not able to excrete out all the aluminium from their bodies and are at risk of toxicity. 

Some other factors that may lead to aluminium toxicity in people suffering from renal failure are:

  • When the dialysis process is not very effective in removing aluminium from the blood
  • When aluminium is absorbed from oral medications such as antacids with aluminium hydroxide
  • When the dialysis fluid has aluminium traces present in it

An aluminium test is ordered to assess aluminium toxicity caused due to any of the above-mentioned reasons. It is also done as a routine test to measure the concentration of aluminium in the blood of a renal failure patient.

  1. Why is an Aluminium Blood test performed?
  2. How do you prepare for an Aluminium Blood test?
  3. How is an Aluminium Blood test performed?
  4. Aluminium Blood test results and normal levels

Why is an Aluminium Blood test performed?

An aluminium blood test is primarily done to check for aluminium toxicity in the body. Doctors recommend this test in:

  • Patients with kidney failure who are unable to excrete aluminium (Read more: Acute kidney failure)
  • Those who are undergoing regular haemodialysis as a treatment for kidney failure 
  • Those who suffer from poor iron absorption and anaemia
  • People living or working in places that contain high levels of aluminium 
  • Those receiving long-term intravenous nutrition
  • People who have aluminium containing prosthetic implants, such as hip replacements 
  • Those who are taking citrate-containing drugs or aluminium-containing astringents, hydroxide gels, aluminium-containing phosphate binders.

The test is also recommended for those who suffer from secondary hyperparathyroidism due to aluminium accumulation in bones. Parathyroid hormone regulates blood calcium levels. Aluminium increases calcium in blood, so more parathyroid hormone is needed to balance it.

Additionally, your doctor may order this test if you display the following symptoms of aluminium toxicity:

Certain complications associated with aluminium toxicity are:

  • Bone diseases
  • Brain diseases 
  • Lung diseases
  • Anaemia and impaired iron absorption 
  • Nervous system disorders
myUpchar doctors after many years of research have created myUpchar Ayurveda Urjas Capsule by using 100% original and pure herbs of Ayurveda. This ayurvedic medicine has been recommended by our doctors to lakhs of people for sex problems with good results.
Long Time Capsule_0
Long Time Capsule_1
Long Time Capsule_2
Long Time Capsule_3
Long Time Capsule_4
Long Time Capsule_5
Long Time Capsule_6
Long Time Capsule_7
Long Time Capsule_8
Long Time Capsule
₹712  ₹799  10% OFF
BUY NOW

How do you prepare for an Aluminium Blood test?

No special preparation is required before this test. Inform your doctor about all the drugs, supplements and vitamins that you are consuming.

Your doctor may administer a dose of intravenous deferoxamine before the test to release the bound aluminium from different tissues.

(Health checkup app)

How is an Aluminium Blood test performed?

For this test, a skilled technician will withdraw 6 mL of blood from a vein in your arm.

You may experience pain or soreness at the site of insertion of the needle. However, it will subside soon. The sample will be sent for analysis immediately. For those undergoing dialysis, the dialysis centre will collect a blood sample and send it for analysis.

Results are generally expected in three weeks.

See Similar Category Medicines Here

Aluminium Blood test results and normal levels

Normal results:

The following concentrations of aluminium in the blood are considered as normal:

  • Concentration < 0.37 µmol/L is normal in persons with no history of chronic renal failure
  • Concentration < 2.22 µmol/L in patients with chronic renal failure who are receiving dialysis

Abnormal results:

The following levels can be considered as abnormal in patients who have been receiving dialysis:

  • Concentrations > 2.22 µmol/L indicate excessive accumulation of aluminium.
  • Concentrations > 3.70 µmol/L indicate a high risk of toxicity in children and is a matter of concern.
  • Concentrations > 7.41 µmol/L are considered high in both children and adults and require urgent care.

Since abnormal results are primarily noted in patients having chronic kidney disease, the following complications of aluminium toxicity are seen in these patients:

  • Lung disease
  • Microcytic anaemia
  • Dialysis dementia, characterised by memory impairment and cognitive disabilities in younger ages (earlier than normal)
  • Aluminium-induced osteomalacia where bones are deformed and fragile, resulting in frequent fractures.

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.

References

  1. Fischbach FT. A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests. Appendix G, Minerals in human nutrition. 7th ed. 2003. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Publishers. Pp: 38, 711
  2. Marshall WJ, Lapsley M, Day AP, Ayling RM. Clinical Biochemistry: Metabolic and Clinical Aspects. Metabolic bone disease. 3rd ed. 2014. Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier Ltd. Pp: 625-627.
  3. South Tees Hospitals. NHS Foundation trust. National Health Service, U.K. Aluminium
  4. McCarthy JT, Milliner DS, Kurtz SB, et al. Interpretation of serum aluminum values in dialysis patients. Am J Clin Pathol 1986;86:629-636. PMID: 3776914
  5. Liu TK, Liu SH, Chang CH, Yang RS. Concentration of metal elements in the blood and urine in the patients with cementless total knee arthroplasty. Tohoku J Exp Med 1998;185:253-262. PMID: 9865472
  6. Sharma AK, Toussaint ND, Pickering J, et al. Assessing the utility of testing aluminum levels in dialysis patients. Hemodial Int 2015 Apr;19(2):256-262. PMID: 25306885
  7. Hernandez JD, Wesseling K, Salusky IB. Role of parathyroid hormone and therapy with active vitamin D sterols in renal osteodystrophy. Semin Dial 2005;18:290-295. PMID: 16076350
  8. Schwarz C, Sulzbacher R, Oberbauer R. Diagnosis of renal osteodystrophy. Eur J Clin Invest 2006;36:13-22. PMID: 16884394
  9. Riihimaki V, Aitio A. Occupational exposure to aluminum and its biomonitoring in perspective. Crit Rev Toxicol. 2012 Nov;42(10):827-853. PMID: 23013241
  10. Bia MJ, Cooper K, Schnall S, et al. Aluminum induced anemia: pathogenesis and treatment in patients on chronic dialysis. Kidney Int. 1989;36(5):852-858. PMID: 2615192
  11. D’Haese PC, Couttenye MM, Goodman WG, et al. Use of the low-dose desferrioxamine test to diagnose and differentiate between patients with aluminum-related bone disease, increased risk for aluminum toxicity, or aluminium overload. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 1995;10:1874-1884. PMID: 8592597
  12. Cannata Andia JB. Aluminum toxicity: its relationship with bone and iron metabolism. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 1996;11 Suppl 3:69-73. PMID: 8840317
  13. Kawahara M. Effects of aluminum on the nervous system and its possible link with neurodegenerative diseases. J Alzheimers Dis. 2005;8(2):171-182. PMID: 16308486
  14. Malluche HH. link]. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2002;17 Suppl 2:21-24. PMID: 11904354
  15. Krewski D, Yokei RA, Nieboer E et al. Human health risk assessment for aluminium, aluminium oxide, and aluminium hydroxide. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2007:10 supl 1: 1-269. PMID: 18085482
  16. Molloy DW, Standish TI, Nieboer E et al. Effects of acute exposure to aluminum on cognition in humans. J Toxicol Environ Health A 2007:70(23):2011-2019. PMID: 17966072
  17. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry [internet]. Center for Disease Control. Atlanta. GA. U.S. ToxFAQsTM for Aluminum
  18. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Elevated Serum Aluminum Levels in Hemodialysis Patients Associated with Use of Electric Pumps --- Wyoming, 2007
  19. Mahieu S, del Carmen Contini M, González M, Millen N, Elias MM. Aluminum toxicity. Hematological effects. Toxicol Lett. 2000;111(3):235-242. doi:10.1016/S0378-4274(99)00184-8.
  20. Mahieu S, del Carmen Contini M, González M, Millen N, Elias MM. Aluminum toxicity. Hematological effects. Toxicol Lett. 2000;111(3):235-242. doi:10.1016/S0378-4274(99)00184-8.
  21. McCarthy JT, Milliner DS, Johnson WJ. Clinical experience with desferrioxamine in dialysis patients with aluminium toxicity. Q J Med. 1990; 74(275):257-76. PMID: 2117295
  22. Gloucestershire Hospitals. NHS Foundation trust. National Health Service, U.K. Aluminium (Al)
Read on app
cross
Ask your health query from live doctors now!