Heavy Metals - Mercury
Blood mercury reflects recent exposure, most commonly from consumption of large predatory fish such as tuna, swordfish, and shark. Mercury is a neurotoxin that can cause tremor, memory problems, and in pregnancy, impaired fetal neurodevelopment. Limiting intake of high-mercury fish while maintaining lower-mercury omega-3 sources balances risk and benefit.
Optimal range: who says what
Institutions, researchers and practitioners draw the line in different places. Each position is listed with who holds it and, where a document states it, a link. How we verify ranges.
- Named practitioner<10 μg/L (lower is better)Rupa Health · Lead Exposure: Testing and Interpretation
- No stated targetNo separate optimal establishedLower is better; blood mercury mostly tracks high-mercury fish intake
- Lab reference interval<10 μg/L, Elevated: >10 μg/LWhat a lab report flags against. A lab interval is not an optimal target.
Practitioner targets are individual positions, often tighter than guideline ranges. Each was checked against its article before publishing.
5 providers include this
Advanced / Specialty Markers
Why Heavy Metals - Mercury matters
Neurotoxin primarily from fish consumption. Causes neurological damage. Balancing fish benefits with mercury exposure important.
Which Providers Test Heavy Metals - Mercury?
Cheapest: Mito Health at $297/year. Most comprehensive: Function Health, 160+ biomarkers for $365/year.
5 panels that include it, cheapest first
| Provider | Annual Cost | Total Biomarkers | $/Biomarker |
|---|---|---|---|
| $297 | 100+ | $2.97 | |
 Superpower | $349 | 100+ | $3.49 |
 Function Health | $365 | 160+ | $2.28 |
| $365 | 100+ | $3.65 | |
| $499 | 100+ | $4.99 |
$/Biomarker is annual cost divided by the panel's advertised biomarker count, not the price of this one test. We track 23 blood test providers (32 plans); 21 of those plans are itemized marker by marker. Compare all of them.
16 itemized panels do not include Heavy Metals - Mercury
WHOOP Advanced Labs · Labcorp OnDemand · Life Extension Elite · Everlywell · InsideTracker · Marek Health Base · Marek Health Comprehensive · Marek Health Complete · Marek Health Executive · Empirical Health · Oura Health Panels · SiPhox Health · Hims Labs · Healthspan · Vitality Blueprint Standard · Vitality Blueprint Elite
11 providers not itemized in our matrix
We have not itemized these marker by marker (some sell tests one at a time), so this page cannot say whether they offer Heavy Metals - Mercury. Check with them directly.
Life Extension Standard · Quest Health · Ultrahuman Blood Vision · Lifeforce · Hundred Health · Personalabs · Walk-In Lab · HealthLabs · WHOOP Specialized Panels · Marek Health Essential · Vitality Blueprint Upload
Experts discussing Heavy Metals - Mercury
Podcast episodes where clinicians and researchers cover this marker in depth. Curated by hand; an episode is listed only when the marker is a substantial topic, not a passing mention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the optimal range for Heavy Metals - Mercury?
No separate optimal established: Lower is better; blood mercury mostly tracks high-mercury fish intake. Named practitioners target: <10 μg/L (lower is better) (Rupa Health). Lab reference interval: <10 μg/L, Elevated: >10 μg/L. That is what a lab report flags against, not an optimal target.
Which blood test providers include Heavy Metals - Mercury?
5 of the 21 blood testing panels we itemize marker by marker include Heavy Metals - Mercury in their panels. This biomarker has limited availability.
Medical Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider about your specific health needs.
Last reviewed Sep 23, 2026 · First published Sep 30, 2025