Test ID ZNS Zinc, Serum
Reporting Name
Zinc, SUseful For
Detecting zinc deficiency
Specimen Type
SerumSpecimen Required
Patient Preparation: High concentrations of gadolinium, iodine, and barium are known to interfere with most metals tests. If gadolinium-, iodine-, or barium-containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for at least 96 hours.
Supplies:
-Metal Free B-D Tube (No Additive), 6 mL (T184)
-Metal Free Specimen Vial (T173)
Collection Container/Tube: 6-mL Plain, royal blue-top Vacutainer plastic trace element blood collection tube
Submission Container/Tube: 7-mL Metal-free, screw-capped, polypropylene vial
Specimen Volume: 0.8 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Allow the specimen to clot for 30 minutes after collection; then centrifuge the specimen to separate serum from the cellular fraction. Serum must be removed from cellular fraction within 4 hours of specimen collection. Avoid hemolysis.
2. Remove the stopper. Carefully pour specimen into a metal-free, polypropylene vial, avoiding transfer of the cellular components of blood. Do not insert a pipet into the serum to accomplish transfer, and do not ream the specimen with a wooden stick to assist with serum transfer.
3. See Trace Metals Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport in Special Instructions for complete instructions.
Specimen Minimum Volume
0.2 mL
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 28 days | METAL FREE |
Ambient | 28 days | METAL FREE | |
Frozen | 28 days | METAL FREE |
Special Instructions
Reference Values
0-10 years: 0.60-1.20 mcg/mL
≥11 years: 0.66-1.10 mcg/mL
Day(s) and Time(s) Performed
Monday; 2 p.m.
Tuesday through Friday; 5 p.m.
Saturday; 2 p.m.
Test Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. This test has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
84630
LOINC Code Information
Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
ZNS | Zinc, S | 5763-8 |
Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
8620 | Zinc, S | 5763-8 |
Clinical Information
Zinc is an essential element; it is a critical cofactor for carbonic anhydrase, alkaline phosphatase, RNA and DNA polymerases, alcohol dehydrogenase, and many other physiologically important proteins. The peptidases, kinases, and phosphorylases are most sensitive to zinc depletion. Zinc is a key element required for active wound healing.
Zinc depletion occurs either because it is not absorbed from the diet (excess copper or iron interfere with absorption) or it is lost after absorption. Dietary deficiency may be due to absence (parenteral nutrition), or because the zinc in the diet is bound to phytate (fiber) and not available for absorption. Excess copper and iron in the diet (eg, iron supplements) interfere with zinc uptake. Once absorbed, the most common route of loss is via exudates from open wounds or gastrointestinal loss. Zinc depletion occurs in burn patients who lose zinc in the exudates from their burn sites. Hepatic cirrhosis causes excess loss of zinc by enhancing renal excretion. Other diseases that cause low serum zinc are ulcerative colitis, Crohn disease, regional enteritis, sprue, intestinal bypass, neoplastic disease, and increased catabolism induced by anabolic steroids. The conditions of anorexia and starvation also result in low zinc levels.
Zinc excess is not of major clinical concern. The popular American habit of taking megavitamins (containing huge doses of zinc) produces no direct toxicity problems. Much of this zinc passes through the gastrointestinal tract and is excreted in the feces. The excess fraction that is absorbed is excreted in the urine. The only known effect of excessive zinc ingestion relates to the fact that zinc interferes with copper absorption, which can lead to hypocupremia.
Interpretation
Normal serum zinc is 0.66 to 1.10 mcg/mL.
Burn patients with acrodermatitis may have zinc as low as 0.4 mcg/mL; these patients respond quickly to zinc supplementation.
Elevated serum zinc is of minimal clinical interest.
Clinical Reference
1. Tucker SB, Schroeter AL, Brown PW Jr, McCall JT: Acquired zinc deficiency: cutaneous manifestations typical of acrodermatitis enteropathica. JAMA. 1976;235:2399-2402
2. Skelton JA, Havens PL, Werlin SL: Nutrient deficiencies in tube-fed children. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2006;45(1):37-41
3. Zorbas YG, Kakuris KK, Neofitov IA, Afoninos NI: Zinc utilization in zinc-supplemented and-unsupplemented healthy subjects during and after prolonged hypokinesis. Tr Elem Electro. 2008;25:60-68
4. Rifai N, Horwath AR, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2018
Analytic Time
1 dayMethod Name
Dynamic Reaction Cell-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (DRC-ICP-MS)
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a General Request (T239) with the specimen.