When we receive new patient enquiries at the practice the question we are most often asked is, “Can I have a test to see if I am suffering from mercury toxicity?”  Until recently the answer has been no, but now we are able to offer a Urine Porphyrin Profile. 

The Urine Porphyrin Profile involves testing your urine for abnormal porphyrins. These are molecules created by the body and the best known example is heam, from haemoglobin. Mercury causes the body to make abnormal porphyrins that are specific to mercury toxicity. The test is available from a Parisian laboratory.

UPP test costs €95 plus postage to Paris.

In addition to toxicitry it is also possible to be sensitive to dental metals at sub toxic doses due to immune reaction.  The Melisa test (www.melisa.org) can check for this. The procedure involves testing the blood and you may need to travel to London.

Melisa test from £200 - £300 depending on which metals you wish to test for.

Neither test can tell you whether mercury is causing a specific symptom.

John Ahearne

March 07