Selenium, Plasma (Referred Out) - Saskatoon

Overview

Description

Test ordering requirements

​Preferred specimen collection

• Refer patient to a Life Labs Health Services Centre or a Hospital Test Centre able to process specimens within required time frame
• High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are known to interfere with most trace element tests. If gadolinium or iodine containing contrast media have been administered, a specimen should not be collected for 48 hours.

Specimen Information

Specimen types accepted

• Plasma

Specimen collection container

• ​Preferred collection container: Royal Blue (K2EDTA) 6.0 mL

Required volume

• Optimal volume:  6 mL full collection tube
• Pediatric volume:  0.6 mL plasma

(Submitting the minimum volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory/reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum volume may require a second collection.)

Transport and stability

• Centrifuge and separate plasma from red blood cells immediately after collection
• Aliquot plasma into a polypropylene tube

Rejection criteria

• ​Specimens received where the proper collection protocols were not followed
• Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Acceptance and Rejection Criteria

Testing Information

Clinical interpretation

• Used to monitor exposure or detect deficiency

Performance

Days/times performed

Availability	Shipped Mondays and Wednesdays
Testing site	Referred out by St. Paul’s Hospital Laboratory​ to Dynacare (London, ON)

 

Maximum laboratory time

Results reporting

• 7 day turnaround time by testing laboratory

Last Updated: March 19, 2026