| Laboratory: | Clinical Biochemistry (SPECIAL CHEMISTRY) | ||||||||
| Test Name: |
ZINC - (P)
Test Code:
ZN
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| Clinical Information: |
Test Indications: This test is used to detect zinc deficiency primarily in enteral or parental nutrition, and critically ill patients. 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 via exudates from open wounds or gastrointestinal loss.
Zinc excess is not of major clinical concern. The popular 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. Testing for zinc is available to gastroenterologists, general and bariatric surgeons. |
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| Collection Devices: |
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| Specimen Required: |
Plasma: 1.0 mL
Pediatric Plasma: 0.5 mL
Collection Information: If copper and zinc are ordered together, only one specimen should be collected as these trace elements can be measured together and one tube would be sufficient. Special Processing: Separate and aliquot plasma in one of the following tubes for transport: - Grenier Bio-One Tube vacuette secondary multiplex; 13 x 75 mm with white screw cap (VWR #89423-412) - Sarstedt Screw cap tube 13 x 75 mm, round base with write screw cap (#60.504.021) Avoid hemolysis - hemolyzed samples result in falsely elevated results Specimen Stability: Ambient: 22 days Refrigerated: 14 months Frozen: At least 14 months |
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| Referral: |
Plasma: 1.0 mL
Pediatric Plasma: 0.5 mL
Shipping & Storage: Store and ship refrigerated or frozen.
Testing Laboratory (MB): Send specimen to St. Boniface Hospital – Clinical Biochemistry |
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| Requisition: | |||||||||
| Reference Values: |
Method of Analysis: ICP-MS/MS at St. Boniface Hospital (Laboratory Developed Test) |
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| Availability: |
Within 1 Week
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| See Also: | |||||||||
| More Information: | |||||||||