Check Your Zinc Levels

Conditions and notices

• Fasting is not required
• It is preferable to fast for 8-12 hours before drawing a blood sample, because eating food (especially foods rich in zinc) may temporarily raise the level.
• Special latex-free blood collection tubes (such as gelatin- or silicone-coated tubes) must be used to prevent zinc contamination from the rubber stopper.
• Serum or plasma must be separated from blood cells within one hour of sample collection to avoid zinc leakage from red blood cells and platelets, which would raise the reading falsely.
• Inform your doctor or technician about any dietary supplements containing zinc or multivitamins.