Published: June 18, 2024
Tuesday
Doctor’s Data tests (for testing your hair or urine for metals, including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, Arsenic, Nickel, Aluminum, and more!) are now available on Amazon. Here’s our aflink: https://amzn.to/4eqHwmN.
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These tests are very useful if you don’t already have a baseline heavy metals test in your medical file, OR if you suspect you have had a recent exposure and you do have a baseline heavy metals test (so you can compare the two tests and try to determine if you have had a recent exposure/ what follow-up actions you may need to take in addressing any identified issues).
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You can read more about this type of testing in several articles on the Lead Safe Mama website (start by checking out the links below). Lead Safe Mama, LLC is not a medical provider at all, so please always consult your doctor if you have questions, but it’s nice to see something like this available direct-to-consumers since I am always getting questions about this (testing yourself for metals without needing to go to a doctor)!
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Here’s an overview piece I wrote about this type of testing and why it can be useful:
https://tamararubin.com/2020/05/i-heard-that-urine-and-hair-tests-for-heavy-metals-including-lead-were-not-real-or-useful-test-results-why-is-this/.
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Here’s a (silly) little video of me getting tested in New York:
https://tamararubin.com/2022/06/tamara-gets-a-provoked-urine-test-for-lead-other-metals-in-new-york-city-video/.
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Here’s my personal actual test result panel for metals from the above test:
https://tamararubin.com/2022/06/would-you-like-to-see-my-personal-full-heavy-metals-test-results-here-you-go/.
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Here’s an audio recording discussing my test results with the doctor who oversaw my testing (it’s a pretty interesting chat!):
https://tamararubin.com/2022/10/dr-john-salerno-tamara-len-rubin-discuss-tamaras-heavy-metal-test-results-audio-recording/
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Thanks for checking out these links!
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And here are some additional Lead testing kits for consumers (with aflinks):
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Testing for metals in food:
https://amzn.to/45MiYRr
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Testing for Lead in paint and some (NOT ALL) consumer goods: https://amzn.to/46zT2ai
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Testing for metals in water:
https://amzn.to/4c3G0Wc
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Testing for Lead in house dust:
https://amzn.to/3z8Hv6K
Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking on a Lead Safe Mama, LLC Amazon affiliate link we may receive a percentage of what you spend — at no extra cost to you. Thank you.
When I got my first Doctor’s Data mineral test, my naturopath prescribed some DMSA capsules. Taking the 3 pills in the morning “provokes” the body to release minerals from “storage” The directions say to collect the urine for 12 hours in a jug provided by the company. Then after shaking it up a sample is sent in that reveals what my body burden of lead was.
In contrast, my Medicare doctor (who is woefully ignorant about lead) refused to prescribe a Provoked Urine Test. Instead she ordered a blood test, which of course it came back in the Normal range since I am not CURRENTLY exposed to lead.
I left that clinic and found an osteopath at a different clinic who is more knowledgeable about lead (DOs are equivalent to MDs but learn a wider range of therapies in their training. (But not ALL osteopaths are open minded, you still have to ask questions.)
So the new doc wouldn’t fill out the online form that allows her to prescribe a Doctor’s Data test (which I would have paid for out of pocket), but she ordered such a test from a different lab and also prescribed the 3 capsules of DMSA.
Incidentally, the Doctor’s Data urine test doesn’t mention DMSA; taking DMSA for the test is simply a way to extrapolate a person’s real body burden.
This test is for hair – I don’t think they have a urine collection test on Amazon, but I will see what I can find.
T