Pica

How is the condition diagnosed?

There is no test that can diagnose pica. The diagnosis is made when there is a history of eating non-food items for more than one month. The healthcare provider will often order blood tests to rule out iron or zinc deficiency. These tests may include a serum iron level, a zinc level, and a complete blood count. The complete blood count (CBC ) measures the number of blood cells. This is done because iron deficiency can cause anemia, or low counts of red blood cells.