Selenium, Serum

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1231752, Beaker: Selenium Lvl, CHW: LAB1231752

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

Patient should refrain from taking vitamins or mineral supplements at least three days prior to specimen collection.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One plain Royal Blue-top tube with no additive.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let specimen clot 30 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells within 4 hours of collection.  Carefully transfer with plastic pipette the serum specimen into a metal free. Maintain refrigerated at (2-8°C or 36-46) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 2.0 mL serum, refrigerated at (2-8°C or 36-46). (Minimum: 1.0 mL)

Rejection Criteria

Specimens not collected and processed as indicated. 

In-Lab Processing

Let specimen clot 30 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells within 4 hours of collection.  Carefully transfer with plastic pipette the serum specimen into a metal free vial (non-metal free vial. Do not ream the specimen with wooden stick. Maintain at refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46) prior to transport.

Transport: 2.0 mL serum, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46). (Minimum: 1.0 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing in Metal-Free:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 7 days
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 7 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Corewell Health Reference Laboratory, Grand Rapids, MI.

Performed

Varies, 3 days a week.
Results available in 1-3 days.

Reference Range

Age	Reference Range
0 up to 3 Months	45-90 mcg/L
3 Months up to 7 Months	50-120 mcg/L
7 Months up to 10 Months	60-120 mcg/L
10 Months up to 13 Months	70-130 mcg/L
13 Months up to 18 Years	70-150 mcg/L
18 Years up to Unspecified	110-165 mcg/L
<2 Years	16-71 mcg/L
2-4 Years	40-103 mcg/L
4-16 Years	55-134 mcg/L
Adult	63-160 mcg/L

Test Methodology

Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS)

Interpretation

By report.

Clinical Utility

Selenium – Selenium is an element of parenteral nutrition. Monitoring the Selenium concentration is useful in assessing parenteral nutrition, especially recent intake. Concentrations are also monitored in children with propionic acidemia who require special diets with supplements.

CPT Codes

84255

Contacts

Last Updated

4/1/2026