Minerals & trace elements
Zinc
Cofactor for >300 enzymes; serum is a poor measure of body stores.
Sample
Trace-element-free tube, fasting morning
Clinical reference range
70 to 120 µg/dL
Serum
Conv: 70–120 µg/dL
Biology
What it measures
Acute-phase changes (drops in inflammation) limit serum interpretation.
Clinical use
Why we order it
Suspected deficiency: poor wound healing, dysgeusia, alopecia, dermatitis, chronic diarrhea.
Pitfalls
Pre-analytic & interpretation traps
- !Serum zinc falls during inflammation regardless of stores. Low values during illness are not necessarily true deficiency.
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