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Originally Posted by Undertoad
The researchers found that provocation with DMSA raised the 24-hour average urine mercury level from 4.3 µg/g before chelation to 7.8 µg/g after chelation [2]. Because most of the extra excretion occurs toward the beginning of the test, it is safe to assume that the provoked levels would have been 2-3 times as high if a 6-hour collection period had been used.
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My understanding is that the difference in volume of a 6-hour versus 24-hour collection is accounted for. But regardless, the main point seems to be that an average person will go about 50% out of range (at least for mercury) when provoked. And indeed, my doctors are not concerned about the "elevated" levels that are only slightly out-of-range, like Cadmium for example, or even 2-3 times out of range. They are concerned about the one that is 6.6 times out of range.
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Originally Posted by Undertoad
Standard laboratories that process non-provoked samples use much higher reference ranges,
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And what would that reference range for lead be? Is it less than 33 ug/g?
It is certainly possible that some people could take what amounts to an average provoked sample, and panic and be convinced (or convince themselves) that they need ongoing intensive chelation treatments. The doctor is supposed to have the education and experience to correctly interpret the lab results, just as with any lab results, but there are both bad and good doctors out there.
The important thing to remember is that just because some people are hypochondriacs, doesn't mean others don't have a legitimate condition. The link notes that the average person will give a range of 7.8 ug/g of mercury after provocation, and this requires no special treatment. That's fine. I have personally seen lab results of an autistic child whose provoked mercury sample was in the 30s, and spoken to others who said theirs were higher. They required treatment, and their symptoms were measurably improved with treatment. (Clearly my son is not in that category, however, so we're not treating him as if he has mercury poisoning.)