Nickel Exposure Toxicology Screen

Why Test for Nickel?

Nickel is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis worldwide, and it disproportionately affects women due to higher historical exposure from jewellery and fasteners. Most nickel allergies are diagnosed by a dermatologist using a skin patch test but that is not what this test does. This test measures systemic nickel, the amount absorbed into your body — which is relevant if you have a nickel-containing medical implant, a high dietary nickel intake, or occupational exposure from industries such as plating, refining, or battery manufacturing. In people already sensitised to nickel, raised systemic levels may also contribute to ongoing symptoms.

Allergy vs Exposure — Read This First

This is an exposure test, not an allergy test. It measures how much nickel is currently in your body. It will not tell you whether you are allergic to nickel. If your concern is skin reactions to jewellery, belt buckles, watch straps or fasteners, you need a patch test from a dermatologist instead.

Common Sources of Nickel Exposure

Jewellery and watches, certain medical implants, coins and metal fasteners, electronics and mobile phones, some grades of stainless steel, and dietary sources such as nuts, chocolate and legumes. Occupational exposure is most common in nickel plating, refining, and battery manufacturing.

Possible Effects of Nickel Exposure

The most well-recognised effects are dermatological: skin rashes, eczema, itching, redness and blistering, particularly in people already sensitised to nickel. Occupational inhalation exposure has also been linked to respiratory irritation. Patients with nickel-containing orthopaedic implants occasionally report localised joint symptoms, which is why systemic nickel monitoring is sometimes requested by orthopaedic teams.

Choose Your Sample Type — Blood or Urine

Use the selector at the top of this page to choose. Both measure nickel exposure, but the collection process is very different — please read carefully before ordering.

🩸 Blood Test — Clinic Visit Required
The blood test is the standard method for assessing systemic nickel and overall body burden. This test cannot be done at home. You will need to attend a clinic to have your blood sample drawn by a trained phlebotomist. A separate phlebotomy fee applies and is paid directly to the clinic on the day — please confirm the current fee with your chosen clinic before booking. Choose blood if you have a nickel-containing implant, known nickel sensitivity you want to monitor systemically, unexplained symptoms under investigation, or if your doctor has specifically requested a nickel blood test.

🧪 Urine Test — Home Collection, No Clinic Needed
The urine test is the standard method for occupational and recent-exposure monitoring. This test is collected at home — no clinic visit, no needles, no phlebotomy fee. Your kit arrives by post with full instructions, and you return the sample to the laboratory using the prepaid packaging provided. Choose urine if you work in nickel plating, refining or battery production, if your employer requires biological monitoring, if you want to track recent exposure changes, or if you simply prefer to avoid a clinic appointment.

Quick summary: Blood = clinic visit with a phlebotomist. Urine = done at home, posted back. Choose based on why you are testing, not just convenience — the two samples answer slightly different clinical questions.