Selenium, Serum

Selenium, Serum

Alternate Test Name

Epic Mnemonic
Sunquest Mnemonic

LAB3196
SELE

Category

Sendouts

Methodology

Dynamic Reaction Cell-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (DRC-ICP-MS)

Test Performance Schedule

Monday - Saturday

Result Availability

1 - 3 days

Container

Dark Blue (royal) top trace metal free tube (does not contain additive)

Volume

Pref. Vol.: 0.8 mL
Min. Vol.: 0.2 mL

Collection Instructions

• Routine venipuncture
• Promptly centrifuge 15 minutes
• Clot 30 minutes
• Promptly centrifuge 15 minutes
• Pour off serum into metal-free plastic vial provided in Trace Metal Collection Kit
• Do not use pipettes or wooden sticks to aid in specimen transfer
• Do not use gel-barrier tubes for specimen collection
• Refrigerate

Transportation Instructions

Refrigerated

Stability

• Room temperature: 28 days
• Refrigerated (preferred): 28 days
• Frozen: 28 days

Causes for Rejection

• Not collected in trace metal-free tube and aliquoted to appropriate trace metal-free plastic vial
• Collected in gel-barrier tube

Remarks

High concentrations of gadolinium, iodine, and barium are known to interfere with most metals tests. If gadolinium-, iodine, or barium-containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for 96 hours

CPT Codes

84255

Effective/Revised

9/11/2019

Serum selenium levels can be used in the determination of deficiency or toxicity. Plasma and serum contains 75percent of the selenium measured in whole blood and reflects recent dietary intake. Selenium deficiency can occur endemically or as a result of sustained TPN or restricted diets and has been associated with cardiomyopathy and may exacerbate hypothyroidism. Selenium toxicity is relatively rare. Excess intake of selenium can result in symptoms consistent with selenosis and include gastrointestinal upset, hair loss, white blotchy nails, and mild nerve damage.