Zinc Serum Test

This test is used to evaluate deficiencies in zinc. Zinc is an essential element; it is a critical cofactor for carbonic anhydrase, alkaline phosphatase, RNA and DNA polymerases, and many other physiologically important proteins. Zinc deficiency is associated with several diseases. In children it causes growth retardation, infection susceptibility, delayed sexual maturation, and diarrhea, contributing to the death of about 800,000 children worldwide per year. Zinc Serum test is one of the simplest tests for diagnosing zinc deficiency which is the cause of the above mentioned health problems.

No prior preparations are required. Fasting is not required for this test, as required in some other tests (example: detecting the level of blood glucose). Take all medications which have been prescribed.

This test is used to diagnose zinc deficiency in the patient. As mentioned above, this test is one of the simplest tests for diagnosing zinc deficiency. The mineral Zinc aids in the metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, promote wound healing, and are vital for the transport of oxygen throughout the body and is thus of paramount importance for the normal functioning of the body. Deficiency of this important mineral can lead to:
Delay in growth
Impaired wound healing
Skin lesions/Dry, scaling skin
Altered senses of sight, smell and taste
Impaired immune system
Hair loss/Alopecia
Diarrhea
Impaired testosterone production
Seizures
Heart arrhythmia
Diarrhea

In this test a minimal quantity of as much as 250µL (minimum amount of blood) is taken out. The procedure is as follows:
Wrap an elastic band around your upper arm which will make the veins below the band larger so it is easier to put a needle into the vein.
Clean the needle site with alcohol.
Put the needle into the vein.
Attach a tube to the needle to fill it with blood.
Remove the band from your arm when enough blood is collected.
Put a cotton ball over the needle site as the needle is removed.
Put pressure on the site and then put on a bandage
The sample will be then sent to a laboratory for testing.
This blood is then examined for its content of zinc through atomic absorption Spectroscopy.