Chromium Test - More Information

The chromium blood test, also known as a chromium lab test and chromium level test, measures the chromium blood level.

Chromium is an element with the symbol Cr. Chromium has a wide range of industrial uses because of its magnetic properties, its hardness and its usefulness as an ingredient to reduce corrosion in steel. Chromium is considered an essential nutrient and trace element in humans and is found in food and water. Chromium is thought to play a role in enabling insulin's function in macromolecule metabolism.

Chromium toxicity can occur through environmental exposure in the workplace. Inhaled chromium can lead to genetic mutations and cancer while stomach cancer can occur from oral chromium intake. Chromium supplementation is popular in some communities as low chromium levels, or chromium deficiency, may lead to suboptimal regulation of glucose in the body. Chromium poisoning can occur from excessive consumption of chromium supplements. Chromium toxicity can also occur from certain types of surgical implants. When chromium poisoning from surgical implants is being considered, this chromium blood test is sometimes ordered with the cobalt blood test.

To get a chromium blood test near you, simply order online and get tested at your selected Quest Diagnostics lab. As can be seen on the chromium lab report provided in the link above, the chromium lab test results will show the measured chromium level as a number in the results column. The chromium lab report will also include a reference range provided by the lab for comparison.