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Zinc Level

Zn

Test Codes

EPIC:LAB1231334, Beaker: XZN, Warde: ZINC

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

• This test may be useful as an indicator of acute deficiency. For acute toxicity, Urine Zinc may be a more reliable indicator of exposure.
• Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Upon the advice of their physician, patients should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, and nonessential over-the-counter medications for one week prior to specimen collection.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Royal Blue-top EDTA tube.
Also acceptable: One Royal Blue-top tube with no additives.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Centrifuge to separate serum or plasma from cells within two hours of collection. Transfer serum or plasma into a plastic transport tube and maintain at refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). Do not ream with wooden stick.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 2.0 mL serum or plasma, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.7 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Hemolyzed specimens.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Centrifuge to separate serum or plasma from cells within two hours of collection. Transfer serum or plasma into a plastic transport tube and maintain refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). Do not ream with wooden stick.

Transport: 2.0 mL serum or plasma, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Min: 0.7 mL) 

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 24 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 14 days

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

Monday – Friday.
Results available in 1-3 days.

Reference Range

60-130 mcg/dL.

Test Methodology

Atomic Absorption.

Interpretation

Elevated results from noncertified trace element-free tubes may be due to contamination. Elevated concentrations of trace elements in serum should be confirmed with a second specimen collected in a trace element-free tube, such as royal blue sterile tube (no additives).

Clinical Utility

• Dietary zinc deficiencies can lead to various clinical symptoms depending on the degree of the deficiency. Mild deficiencies can result in oligospermia, weight loss, hyperammonemia, and lowered ethanol tolerance. Moderate zinc deficiencies can lead to childhood growth retardation, hypogonadism, dermatitis, poor appetite, delayed wound healing, lethargy, and impaired immune responsiveness. In patients with severe deficiency, dermatitis, alopecia, weight loss, diarrhea, neuropsychiatric disorders, recurrent infection, and death may result.
  
  
• Zinc deficiency can also result from malabsorption, hepatic cirrhosis, hepatitis, protein-losing nephropathies, and from exudate loss (e.g., severe burns). Medications (e.g., anabolic steroids, metal-chelating agents) can also interfere with zinc metabolism. Pregnancy is associated with high fetal utilization of maternal zinc levels.

CPT Codes

84630
LOINC:  5763-8

Contacts

Last Updated

8/27/2024