CDB (Cadmium blood) Test

A CDB test is mainly done to check for cadmium poisoning due to a recent exposure to this heavy metal.

Your doctor may suggest the CDB test if he/she notices the following symptoms associated with cadmium toxicity.

 Initial symptoms such as:

• Chills
• Fever
• Muscular pain

Late symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Persistent cough
• Coughing up blood

Cadmium toxicity also affects the gastrointestinal system with symptoms such as:

• Abdominal pain and cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting

A breastfeeding mother who has been exposed to cadmium may also pass it to her baby through the milk.

You don't require any prior preparations before this test. However, your doctor is likely to ask you questions related to your health history and daily habits in order to find the probable cause for your symptoms. Inform the doctor if you are taking any medicines, such as supplements or prescription drugs. 

If you have been administered gadolinium- or iodine-containing contrast media, the specimen would be collected only after 96 hours (4 days) after the administration of contrast media as it can interfere with the test results.

In order to conduct the test, a blood sample is required.

The blood sample will be taken in the following way:

• A health care provider will wrap an elastic band around your upper arm to restrict the flow of blood. This makes the veins present below the band to pop up so that a needle can be easily inserted
• The injection site will be cleaned with alcohol and a needle will be inserted into the vein. Sometimes, more than one needle insertion may be required
• Once enough blood has been collected, the band will be removed from your arm

It’s normal to feel lightheaded after the test. Some people also notice a bruise at the injection site, though all these symptoms fade away on their own. If the discomfort persists, inform your doctor as soon as possible. 

Normal results:

The reference values for this test are 0.0-4.9 ng/mL (nanograms per millilitre). These values are applicable to all age groups. People who are occupationally exposed to cadmium would have a higher concentration of cadmium in their blood.

Still, normal blood cadmium levels should not exceed 5.0 ng/mL.

Abnormal results:

A result indicating higher than normal levels of cadmium is considered as abnormal. Acute toxicity is diagnosed if blood cadmium levels exceed 50 ng/mL.

Your doctor will conduct further tests in order to determine the damage that has been caused to the organs and to evaluate the severity of symptoms. Based on your results, your doctor will also provide a list of measures you can take to reduce and avoid further exposure to cadmium.

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.