Trace Element and Micronutrient Reference Laboratory

Scotland's specialised laboratory for trace elements and vitamins in health and disease

Trace Elements - an Introduction (6)

Trace Elements

Vitamins

Specialised services

For several micronutrients there are potential problems of stability and/or contamination. Vitamins A, E, B2 and B6 for example are light sensitive, and vitamin C which is very labile requires special handling unless the laboratory receives the sample within 4 hours. Small amounts of certain trace elements are present in rubber, cork, and pigmented plastics and can cause contamination. Aluminium for example should be collected into all-plastic containers and zinc should be collected into special 'trace element' containers (dark blue top). When high results are found (especially of aluminium and zinc) in separated serum or plasma from outside laboratories, we are unable to check the appropriateness of the primary sample container. For this reason, and to minimise the possibility of contamination during separation, we prefer to receive primary sample containers rather than separated samples. For urine, water samples and dialysate fluids the best container is a 25 mL Universal container with no lid insert.

Reference ranges used in the Trace Element and Micronutrient Unit have been determined in a variety of populations but mostly on healthy laboratory staff and are therefore only an approximate guide since the populations under investigation may not match in terms of age and sex distribution. Tissue samples are more rarely obtained and reference ranges have been obtained from the literature and/or from limited epidemiological studies.

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