At the present time there is no single test you can take that will diagnose mercury poisoning. In fact, where there has been no acute exposure, the medical profession relies heavily on symptomatology as the basic criteria for further investigation into the possibility of mercury poisoning. There have been over 220 symptoms identified that can occur as a result of mercury exposure. Of course, most of these have come from industrial exposures either in the work-place, mining mercury, accidental spills, or chronic exposure. The effect of chronic exposure to mercury vapor, such as that related to the release of mercury vapor from amalgam dental fillings, are both neurological and psychiatric. Common symptoms include depression, irritability, exaggerated response to stimulation (erethism), excessive shyness, insomnia, emotional instability, forgetfulness, confusion, and vasomotor disturbances such as excessive perspiration and uncontrolled blushing. Tremors are also common in individuals exposed to mercury vapor.

As you can see, mercury poisoning mimics many health conditions, syndromes, and diseases and sorting it all can be difficult. Most physicians believe that blood and urine mercury levels can clearly diagnose mercury poisoning. Unfortunately, this position is not supported by published scientific data. In fact, even the ADA and the National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR) admitted in 1984 that blood and urine mercury levels were not diagnostic of "chronic mercury poisoning." There is evidence that "hair analysis" can provide some indication of excessive mercury and although hair primarily reflects methylmercury, such as that obtained from fish, it is still of importance in determining total mercury exposure. Intra-oral mercury vapor readings, are not diagnostic in themselves, however, they also provide critical information concerning the amount of mercury vapor exposure you are receiving from your mercury dental fillings.

The one test that provides more definitive information about mercury body burden is called the "urine mercury challenge test." The patient collects urine for 24 hours and a sample of this is then analyzed for mercury content. This serves as a base line. The patient is then challenged with either DMSA or DMPS, both are mercury chelators that bind mercury and increase its excretion. Urine is then collected under a specific schedule and again a sample is analyzed for mercury content. It is not unusual to see increases of 15-150 fold in urine mercury content. Again, this is not diagnostic in itself of mercury poisoning but it will sure give you a pretty good indication of what your body burden of mercury is.

Symptomatology together with some of the above tests together with the number of mercury fillings present should provide any knowledgeable physician with enough information to make a valid diagnosis. One of the classic tenants of the science of toxicology is that once a toxin has been identified, the first step in treatment is to eliminate the source of exposure to that toxin.

Also make sure to read these books: Poison in Your Teeth: Mercury Amalgam (Silver) Fillings...Hazardous to Your Health! and Mercury Detoxification by Tom McGuire