Selenium

Laboratory test

Norm
Blood 0.85–1.33 µmol//l
Serum 0.57–1.05 µmol//l
Urine 15–150 µg/l

Blood, serum, urine
Red cap and urine container

Selenium is necessary for the conversion of thyroid hormones from T4 to T3. Selenium determination in serum is used to monitor long-term parenteral nutrition. During parenteral nutrition, selenium is usually not ingested into the body, which is otherwise obtained from food under different conditions. Endemically, both selenium deficiency and excess can occur. The most dangerous consequence of deficiency is cardiomyopathy.

Source | Handbook of Basic Laboratory Tests | Doctor of Medical Sciences Gintaras Zaleskis