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Zinc Protoporphyrin (ZPP), Whole Blood

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6352, Beaker: XZPIN, Warde: ZPP

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Royal Blue-top EDTA tube.
Also acceptable: One Lavender-top EDTA tube.

Must protect specimen from light.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Do not centrifuge or freeze. Maintain whole blood light protected and refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 1.0 mL whole blood, light protected and refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Specimens not protected from light.
• Frozen specimens.
• Clotted specimens.
• Hemolyzed specimens.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated. 

In-Lab Processing

Do not centrifuge or freeze. Maintain whole blood light protected and refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Transport: 1.0 mL whole blood, light protected and refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 8 days
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 60 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Warde Medical Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI.

Performed

Tuesday, Thursday.
Results available in 1-5 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

Quantitative Hematofluorometry.

Interpretation

For occupational exposure to lead, OSHA requires ZPP whole blood testing reported in units of mcg/dL. For adults, conversion of ZPP units of mcg/dL assumes a hematocrit of 45%.

Clinical Utility

Elevated ZPP results are seen in early and late iron deficiency, in the anemia of chronic disease erythropoietic protoporphyria, and in chronic lead poisoning (typically when blood lead is greater than 25 mcg/dL). Causes for false elevations include markedly elevated bilirubin and riboflavin. Elevated protoporphyrin (as in erythropoietic protoporphyria) can also increase the ZPP signal. Specimens which are hemolyzed, clotted, or improperly aliquoted can also show false elevations.

CPT Codes

84202
LOINC:  17501-8, 33007-6, 5763-8

Contacts

Last Updated

9/14/2023