Heavy metal intoxication is not uncommon in caged and wild birds. Caging material and paint can be source of lead or zinc if chewed or ingested.
Lead | Live bird: Minimum of 200 μL blood in a lithium heparin tube or EDTA. Dead bird: Fresh liver and kidney (as much as available) |
Zinc | Live bird: Minimum 200 μL blood in lithium heparin or plain tube – do not use EDTA as it chelates the zinc Dead bird: Fresh liver, kidney or pancreas (minimum 100g of tissue) |