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Selenium - Plasma/Serum

Plasma/Serum
Test performed by: LabPLUS Trace Metals


Gadolinium is known to positively interfere with selenium testing by ICP-MS.

If gadolinium-containing contrast media has been administered, specimens for selenium testing should not be collected until at least 96 hours have elapsed.

Information about contamination of trace element specimens

This test may be vetted by a pathologist.

The clinical information for the test must be clearly written on the request form. If clinical information is not provided, or does not provide sufficient justification for the test, the test may be declined.

Declined tests :

If a test is declined, the specimen will be held for a reasonable period (usually 3 weeks but dependant on the stability of the sample). Medical practitioners seeking approval for a declined test should email the on-call Chemical Pathologist ( chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz ) , giving the patient's name and NHI number and the clinical justification for the test. If unable to email, call the on-call Chemical Pathologist via Lablink (09-3078995) and identify yourself as a doctor.

Test vetting policy

Specimen Collection

Trace Metal

5 mL Trace Metal Blood (Preferred)

If trace metal tubes are not available then the following tubes are acceptable:


Heparin

4 mL Heparin Blood

Plain

4 mL Plain Blood

SST

4.5 mL SST Blood

Micro-heparin

2 mL Paediatric Micro-heparin Blood

PST

4.5 mL PST Blood
Reference Intervals

Units: umol/L

Reference range:

Age

Selenium

< 1 yr

0.20-1.40

1 - 5 yrs

0.40-1.60

5 - 18 yrs

0.50-1.60

Adult

0.80-2.00

Uncertainty of Measurement: 10%

Conversion of units : ug/L x 0.0127 = umol/L



Turnaround Time: Within 1 week
Assay Method

Principle : Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Instrument : PlasmaQuant MS Elite


Diagnostic Use and Interpretation

For detecting toxicity due to industrial or environmental exposure and identifying selenium deficiency.

Selenium deficiency may occur in patients with malabsorption, on parenteral nutrition or in the context of generalised malnutrition.

In New Zealand, people with normal gastrointestinal function are not at risk for selenium deficiency (1).

There is no evidence that measurement of selenium is of any benefit to patients unless there is a predisposing cause for deficiency or toxicity.

A large randomised controlled trial has shown that selenium supplementation does not lower the risk of prostate cancer (2).

References

1. Thomson CD. Selenium and iodine intakes and status in New Zealand and Australia. Br J Nutr. 2004;91:661-672

2. Lippman SM, Klein EA, Goodman PJ et al. Effect of selenium and vitamin E on risk of prostate cancer and other cancers: the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT). JAMA. 2009;301:39-51


Contact Information

Emails to chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz will receive priority attention from the on-call chemical pathologist.

If the query concerns a specific patient please include the NHI number in your email.

If email is not a suitable option, please contact the on-call chemical pathologist via Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995).

Individual chemical pathologists may be contacted but will not be available at all times.

After-hours : contact Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995) or hospital operator for on duty staff after hours.


Dr Samarina Musaad (Clinical Lead) : SamarinaM@adhb.govt.nz ext. 22402

Dr Cam Kyle: CampbellK@adhb.govt.nz ext 22052

Dr Weldon Chiu: WeldonC@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Dr Campbell Heron: CHeron@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Dr Sakunthala Jayasinghe: Sakunthala@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427




Last updated at 15:26:00 06/01/2025