Zinc mass concentration in serum/plasma (total zinc)
This test measures the amount of zinc, a mineral essential for many bodily functions, in your blood. Zinc helps support immune function, wound healing, and metabolism.
["Zinc levels help assess nutritional status and potential deficiencies or excesses."]
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 87603-7
- Short code
- BACZN
- Synonyms
- Bacitracin zinc Spec-mCnt
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Red-top serum collection tube or serum separator tube (SST)
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Method
- Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) or immunoassay
- Specimen volume
- 1 mL serum
- Stability
- Serum stable for 7 days at 2-8°C; 30 days at -20°C; avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles
- Hemolysis max
- 500
- Lipemia max
- 1000
- Icterus max
- 500
- TAT
- 48–168 hours
- Order
- routine
Why This Test Might Be Ordered
Your healthcare provider may recommend this test if you have symptoms like frequent infections, slow wound healing, hair loss, or fatigue. They might also order it to check for zinc deficiency in people with certain medical conditions, such as chronic illnesses or malabsorption disorders, or to monitor zinc levels during treatment for certain conditions.
What to Expect Before the Test
No special preparation is usually needed. You may be asked to fast for 8–12 hours before the test if it involves a blood draw, but this depends on your provider’s instructions. If you’re taking zinc supplements, check with your provider first to avoid interfering with the test results.
What to Expect During the Test
A healthcare professional will draw blood from a vein in your arm. You may feel a slight pinch or discomfort, but it usually lasts only a few seconds. The test itself takes just a few minutes, and you can resume normal activities afterward.
What the Results Mean
Results are typically reported as a mass concentration (e.g., micrograms per deciliter). While reference ranges vary by lab, low levels may indicate deficiency, while very high levels could signal conditions like acute pancreatitis or certain medications. Your provider will interpret results in the context of your overall health.
Reference range
Not detected in serum of patients not receiving bacitracin therapy. Therapeutic concentrations vary based on route of administration (typically topical or ophthalmic use with minimal systemic absorption).N/A
No special patient preparation required. Specimen should be collected prior to next dose when monitoring systemic absorption.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
Clinical Significance
Short name
Zinc Level
Frequently asked questions
What causes low zinc levels?
What causes high zinc levels?
How often should I get this test?
Sources
- 1
- 2Lab Tests OnlineSource
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy