SELENIUM BLOOD
- Code
- 900.3925
- Name
- SELENIUM BLOOD
- Category
- None
- Department
- Send-Out
- Start Date
- Expiration Date
- Synonyms
- SELENIUM, SERUM
- CPT Codes
- 84255
- Site
- SBMF
- Reference Test
- 44051
Specimen Information
- Type
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS, CALL LAB
- Volume
- Transport Info
- Fasting Required?
- False
- Patient Instructions
- Reference Range
23-190 µg/L
- Methodology
Quantitative Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS)
Clinical Significance
In regions where the diet contains adequate selenium, those at risk of selenium deficiency are primarily children, dialysis patients, and others on synthetic diets deficient in selenium. Selenium is an essential constituent of glutathione peroxidase and deficiencies have been linked to increased risk of cancer. Evidence is increasing that selenium is essential for normal thyroid metabolism. In 1994, a report was published claiming a link between selenium and HIV, wherein selenium depletion increases the rate of virus replication and speeds the development of full-blown AIDS in infected individuals (Taylor EW, et al., J Med Chem 1994; 37:2637-54). Selenium toxicity is usually only of concern in acute overdose. It is associated with hair and nail loss, dermatitis, tooth decay, and neurological symptoms.