Identifying the cause of abnormal serum zinc concentrations using a 24-hour urine specimen
Triple-Quadrupole Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS)
Zn (Zinc)
Urine
The use of blood testing is recommended for children younger than 10 years. Order ZN_S / Zinc, Serum.
24-Hour volume (in milliliters) is required.
Question ID | Description | Answers |
---|---|---|
TM8 | Collection Duration | |
VL5 | Urine Volume |
Patient Preparation: High concentrations of barium are known to interfere with this test. If barium-containing contrast media has been administered, the specimen should not be collected for at least 96 hours.
Supplies: Urine Tubes, 10 mL (T068)
Collection Container/Tube: Clean, plastic urine collection container with no metal cap or glued insert
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic urine tube or clean, plastic aliquot container with no metal cap or glued insert
Specimen Volume: 10 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Collect urine for 24 hours.
2. Refrigerate specimen within 4 hours of completion of 24-hour collection.
3. See Metals Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport for complete instructions.
Additional Information: See Urine Preservatives-Collection and Transportation for 24-Hour Urine Specimens for multiple collections.
Note: The addition of preservative or application of temperature controls must occur within 4 hours of completion of the collection.
Ambient (no additive) | OK |
Refrigerate (no additive) | Preferred |
Frozen (no additive) | OK |
50% Acetic Acid | OK |
Boric Acid | No |
Diazolidinyl Urea | No |
6M Hydrochloric Acid | OK |
6M Nitric Acid | OK |
Sodium Carbonate | No |
Thymol | No |
Toluene | No |
0.4 mL
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Urine | Refrigerated (preferred) | 28 days | |
Ambient | 28 days | ||
Frozen | 28 days |
Identifying the cause of abnormal serum zinc concentrations using a 24-hour urine specimen
Zinc is an essential element; it is a critical cofactor for carbonic anhydrase, alkaline phosphatase, RNA and DNA polymerases, alcohol dehydrogenase, and many other physiologically important proteins. Zinc is a key element required for active wound healing.
Zinc depletion occurs because it is either not absorbed from the diet (excess copper or iron interfere with absorption) or lost after absorption. Dietary deficiency may be due to absence (parenteral nutrition), or because the zinc in the diet is bound to fiber and not available for absorption. Once absorbed, the most common route of loss is via exudates from open wounds, such as third-degree burns, or gastrointestinal loss as in colitis. Hepatic cirrhosis also causes excess loss of zinc by enhancing renal excretion. The peptidase, kinase, and phosphorylase enzymes are most sensitive to zinc depletion.
Zinc excess is not of major clinical concern. The popular American 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. The only known effect of excessive zinc ingestion relates to the fact that zinc interferes with copper absorption, which can lead to hypocupremia.
0-17 years: Not established
> or =18 years: 109-1,476 mcg/24 h
Fecal excretion of zinc is the dominant route of elimination. Renal excretion is a minor, secondary elimination pathway. Normal daily excretion of zinc in the urine is in the range of 20 to 967 mcg/24 h.
High urine zinc associated with low serum zinc may be caused by hepatic cirrhosis, neoplastic disease, or increased catabolism.
High urine zinc with normal or elevated serum zinc indicates a large dietary source, usually in the form of high-dose vitamins.
Low urine zinc with low serum zinc may be caused by dietary deficiency or loss through exudation common in burn patients and those with gastrointestinal losses.
No significant cautionary statements
1. Sata F, Araki S, Murata K, Aono H. Behavior of heavy metals in human urine and blood following calcium disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate injection: observations in heavy metal workers. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 1998;54(3):167-178
2. Afridi HI, Kazi TG, Kazi NG, et al. Evaluation of cadmium, lead, nickel and zinc status in biological samples of smokers and nonsmokers hypertensive patients. J Hum Hypertens. 2010;24(1):34-43
3. Zorbas YG, Kakuris KK, Neofitov IA, Afoninos NI. Zinc utilization in zinc-supplemented and -unsupplemented healthy subjects during and after prolonged hypokinesia. Tr Elem Electro. 2008;25(2):60-68
4. Rifai N, Horwath AR, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2018
The metal of interest is analyzed by triple-quadrupole inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry.(Unpublished Mayo method)
Monday, Thursday
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
84630
Test Id | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
ZNU | Zinc, 24 Hr, U | 5765-3 |
Result Id | Test Result Name |
Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
|
---|---|---|
8591 | Zinc, 24 Hr, U | 5765-3 |
TM8 | Collection Duration | 13362-9 |
VL5 | Urine Volume | 3167-4 |