Zinc Urine 24 hr Test

Zinc is an essential mineral for the body. It acts as a critical co-factor in various enzyme systems and is required for active wound healing. Zinc deficiency occurs due to its lack during dietary absorption or loss even after absorption. Dietary deficiency may be due to its absence or because it is bound to the fiber and not available for absorption. Zinc excess is not of major clinical concern. Most of the excess zinc passes through the gastrointestinal tract and is excreted. The only known effect of excessive zinc ingestion is that it interferes with copper absorption and may lead to hypocupremia. This may be useful for identifying the cause of abnormal serum zinc.

Certain dietary restrictions apply before any urine test. Patients are advised to refrain from having sea/ fresh water fish 3 days prior to specimen collection. If Gadolinium or Iodine containing contrast media is found to be administered in the patient, it is advisable to wait for 96 hours before collecting the specimen. The doctor should be informed of any medication or supplements that you may be undertaking. You may be required to pause certain medications prior to the test.

This test is useful in identifying the cause of abnormal serum zinc concentrations. Once absorbed, the most common course of zinc loss is via discharge from open wounds such as gastrointestinal loss as in colitis or third-degree burns. Hepatic cirrhosis may also cause excess loss of zinc. Hepatitic Cirrhosis enhances renal excretion. Enzymes like peptidase, kinase, and phosphorylase are most sensitive to zinc depletion. Fecal excretion of zinc is another dominant course of elimination of elements like zinc. Renal excretion is a secondary elimination trail. High zinc content in urine is associated with the content of zinc in serum. This surplus may be caused by neoplastic disease, hepatitis cirrhosis or increased catabolism. Urine with high zinc concentration and normal or high serum zinc indicates a large dietary source of high-dose vitamins. Low urine zinc paired with low serum zinc is a result of dietary deficiency or gastrointestinal losses or loss through discharges common in burn patients.

A 24-hour urine collection is a simple lab test that checks for the constituents in your urine. The patient’s urine is collected in a special container meant for this specific purpose. The urine sample is collected and stored in a cool environment over a full 24-hour period. The sample is then transported to the lab for testing. Normal daily excretion of zinc through urine should be in the range of 20 to 967 mcg/24 hours.