Zinc 24 Hours Urine Test

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Uses: Identifying the cause of abnormal serum zinc concentrations using a 24-hour urine specimen. Useful as an indicator of acute toxicity. May be useful as an indicator of deficiency in conjunction with Zinc, Serum or Plasma

Method: Quantitative Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS)

Category: Endocrinology

Reference:

Pre-test Information:

• Patients should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, and non-essential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of their physician)
• Collection from patients receiving iodinated or gadolinium-based contrast media must be avoided for a minimum of 72 hours post-exposure
• High concentrations of barium are known to interfere with this test. If barium-containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for 96 hours.
• Collection from patients with impaired kidney function should be avoided for a minimum of 14 days post contrast media exposure.
• Patients should avoid sea/fresh water fish 3 days prior to specimen collection

Specimen Collection: 24 hour urine specimen must be collected in a plastic container. 10 mL (5 mL min.) aliquot of 24 hour urine collected in acid washed (metal free) container kit available. Mix thoroughly. Transfer 10 mL aliquot to vial provided in the kit. Measure 24 hour total volume and record on vial and test request form

Storage: Refrigerated, Room temperature or frozen

Stability: Stability Room 24 hrs
Stability Refrigerated 48 hrs
Stability Frozen 1 week

Report Availability: 1-5 days

More Details: Zinc is an essential element which acts as a critical co-factor in various enzyme systems and is required for active wound healing. Zinc deficiency occurs due to lack of dietary absorption or loss after absorption. Zinc excess is not a major clinical concern. The only known effect of excessive zinc ingestion is interference with copper absorption leading to hypocupremia. This assay is useful for identifying the cause of abnormal serum zinc. 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 hours. 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