$63.00
Priced per marker, with baseline labs included. You’ll see your total before you pay.
Brain & nervous system
Cobalt test
Trace metal; component of vitamin B12 and marker of joint implant wear from metal-on-metal prostheses.
At a glance
In about 5 days
Most results are ready in about 5 days. Some specialty markers can take up to 21 days.
Check before your draw
This marker has no preparation tag, but it can still need preparation. Contact us before your draw if you’re not sure.
Walk in at Quest
Your lab order arrives by email. Most Quest locations take walk-ins, so bring it with a photo ID.
What it measures
Cobalt is a metal your body uses only as part of vitamin B12. Higher blood levels may point to extra exposure, such as wear from a metal hip implant or work with metals.
Why it matters for women
This isn’t the test for vitamin B12, which is checked on its own. It matters most with a metal-on-metal hip implant, where tiny bits of worn metal can get into the blood. Problems from these implants have been reported more often in women.
You might check it if…
- your hip replacement is the metal-on-metal type
- you notice new pain or swelling around a hip implant
- your work involves hard metals, metal grinding or alloys
What your result may mean
High Cobalt: what it may mean
High blood cobalt may mean wear from a metal-on-metal hip implant, where tiny bits of metal can get into the blood. It can also happen with work around hard metals, pigments, batteries or mining. Implant problems may be reported more in women than men. Very high levels can affect the heart, thyroid, nerves, hearing or vision. Some people may notice hip pain or swelling, and others may have no symptoms. Cobalt can cross the placenta, which may matter for younger women with hip implants who are planning a pregnancy.
Low Cobalt: what it may mean
Low cobalt may be normal, and it may not be a concern on its own. Your body can use cobalt only as part of vitamin B12, so there's no separate need for it. Meat, fish, eggs and dairy can supply that B12. A low value can't tell you about your B12 status, which is checked with its own test. For someone with a metal hip implant, a low result may be reassuring about metal wear, although a clinician may still follow symptoms or imaging.
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These notes provide context and do not diagnose a condition. Not yet available in NY, NJ, RI, HI, ND, SD or WV.