SERUM COPPER IS A LABORATORY TEST THAT MEASURES THE AMOUNT OF COPPER IN THE BLOOD. COPPER IS AN ESSENTIAL TRACE MINERAL THAT PLAYS VARIOUS ROLES IN THE BODY, INCLUDING IRON METABOLISM, BONE HEALTH, AND IMMUNE FUNCTION. ABNORMAL LEVELS OF SERUM COPPER CAN BE INDICATIVE OF CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS. ELEVATED LEVELS OF SERUM COPPER MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH LIVER DISEASE, WILSON DISEASE, OR PREGNANCY. CONVERSELY, LOW LEVELS OF SERUM COPPER CAN BE SEEN IN MALNUTRITION, MALABSORPTION, OR CERTAIN GENETIC DISORDERS.

SERUM ALUMINUM IS A LABORATORY TEST THAT MEASURES THE AMOUNT OF ALUMINUM IN THE BLOOD. ALUMINUM IS A NATURALLY OCCURRING ELEMENT FOUND IN THE ENVIRONMENT, AND IT CAN BE ABSORBED INTO THE BODY THROUGH FOOD, WATER, AND MEDICATIONS. WHILE ALUMINUM IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED SAFE IN LOW DOSES, EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE CAN LEAD TO ALUMINUM TOXICITY, PARTICULARLY IN INDIVIDUALS WITH IMPAIRED KIDNEY FUNCTION. ELEVATED SERUM ALUMINUM LEVELS CAN BE ASSOCIATED WITH CONDITIONS SUCH AS KIDNEY DISEASE, DIALYSIS-RELATED AMYLOIDOSIS, AND BONE DISEASE. MONITORING SERUM ALUMINUM LEVELS IS IMPORTANT IN INDIVIDUALS AT RISK FOR ALUMINUM TOXICITY, SUCH AS THOSE WITH KIDNEY DISEASE OR THOSE UNDERGOING DIALYSIS.

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. THIS ASSAY HELPS TO DETECT ZINC DEFICIENCY. ELEVATED SERUM ZINC IS OF MINIMAL CLINICAL INTEREST.

SELENIUM IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT FOUND IN MANY OVER THE COUNTER VITAMIN PREPARATIONS BECAUSE ITS ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITY IS THOUGHT TO BE ANTI-CARCINOGENIC. SELENIUM DEFICIENCY TARGETS CARDIAC MUSCLE LEADING TO CARDIOMYOPATHY. THIS ASSAY IS USEFUL FOR MONITORING SELENIUM REPLACEMENT THERAPY SPECIALLY PATIENTS WITH NO FUNCTIONAL BOWEL, ON PARENTERAL SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTATION.