Zinc

Pathology category

Biochemistry - referred tests

Code

Z

Referral code

Request form

Test information

For monitoring patients on artificial nutrition (parenteral and enteral) & patients with malabsorption (short gut, Crohn’s disease etc) Zinc is bound to albumin so if the albumin is low, the zinc will be low. Zinc toxicity can be seen in people taking unregulated supplements; the main problem is that, if copper is not supplemented to the same level, copper deficiency will occur. May exhibit diurnal variation in healthy individuals (peak 10:00). Also affected by acute phase reaction and pregnancy (low). Marginally low values hard to interpret, but concentration <7umol/L indicates marked deficiency.

Guidelines

Pre-analytical

Avoid venous stasis when collecting sample.

Reference range

see report

Tube type

Tube type info

Trace elements (blue top)

Special requirements

Serum/Plasma

Minimum volume

100 uL

Assay frequency

TAT Inpatient (urgent)

TAT Inpatient

2 weeks

TAT GP/Outpatient

2 weeks

Referral lab

Regional Toxicology Laboratory, City Hospital