Selenium

Chemical Pathology

Notes

Trace element analysis including selenium (Se) is not routinely performed in the normal population. Selenium levels are requested whenever a deficiency or toxicity is suspected due to the medical history or clinical signs and symptoms.

Plasma selenium is a good index of recent (months) changes in intake or exposure to the element, however selenium is an acute phase reactant like copper and zinc and concomitant measurement of CRP may be helpful in some circumstances as an aid to interpreting low selenium concentrations.

For patients on TPN, selenium should only be measured at baseline if there is a risk of deficiency (see NICE guidelines 2006) and then further testing is dependent on this initial result. Long term status is better assessed with glutathione peroxidase.

Sample requirements

For adults, 6 ml of blood taken into a trace element tube:

For children and neonates, a minimum of 1 ml taken into a Teklab trace element tube:

Storage/transport

Do not store. Send at ambient temperature to the laboratory the same day.

Required information

Relevant clinical details.

Turnaround times

The samples are sent to a referral laboratory for analysis, with results expected back within 2 weeks.

Reference ranges

Age appropriate reference ranges are provided by the assaying laboratory when results are reported.

Further information

NICE Guidelines: Nutrition support in Adults 2006 http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG32

To learn more about trace elements visit Lab Tests Online

Page last updated: 07/02/2019