zinc (Zn+2) in serum/plasma

Indications

• assessment of zinc deficiency
• assessment of zinc toxicity

Reference interval

• 60-130 ug/dL (9-20 umol/L)

Clinical significance

• 75-88% of Zn+2 in whole blood is in erythrocytes
• levels in erythrocytes 15 times that of plasma
• no body stores of zinc

Increases

• zinc toxicity
  • acidic beverages & foods in Zinc containers
  • excessive Zinc supplementation
    • high-dose zinc therapy may result in copper deficiency & acquired sideroblastic anemia
• hemodialysis against a diasylate high in Zn+2
• pharmaceuticals
  • chlorthalidone, penicillamine
• osteosarcoma of bone
• arteriosclerosis, coronary artery disease
• anemia

Decreases

• zinc deficiency
• dwarfism
• acrodermatitis enteropathica
• acute tissue injury
  • acute myocardial infarction
• chronic liver disease
  • severe hepatocellular disease
• sickle cell disease
• some cancers
  • colon cancer
  • lung cancer
  • metastatic cancer to liver
  • leukemias
  • lymphomas
• parenteral nutrition (Zn+2-deficient, several weeks)
• hypoalbuminemia*
• stress
• infection
  • typhoid fever
  • pulmonary tuberculosis
• pregnancy
• malnutrition or decreased Zn+2 absorption
  • celiac disease
• pica (Zn+2-binding agents)
• burns
• thalassemia major
• pharmaceuticals
  • estrogens, cisplatin, corticosteroids, interferon, phenytoin, thiazides

* 50% of serum Zn+2 is bound to albumin

Methods

• measurement by atomic absorption spectroscopy

Specimen

• serum or plasma
• fasting morning specimen
• Collect in acid-washed polypropylene container, zinc-free vacuum tubes or metal-free glass. Avoid hemolysis.
• Separate from cells within 45 minutes

Interferences

• rubber stoppers on vacutainers & storage containers may be a significant source of contamination

More general terms

• zinc (Zn+2) in body fluid

Additional terms

• zinc deficiency
• Zn+2