Measurement of trace minerals by inductively-coupled plasma/mass spectrometry. Targets include copper, cobalt, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc. A tissue/feed prep fee will be added to tissue and feed specimens.
For birds, 0.6 mL EDTA or heparinized whole blood is adequate.
*Serum selenium provides current day levels, while whole blood selenium indicates selenium status over a longer period of time. TVMDL can interpret both serum and whole blood selenium concentrations for cattle, horses, sheep, birds or white-tailed deer. For goats, TVMDL has reference values for serum or plasma only.
Measurement of Vitamin D to determine toxicity or deficiency. The profile includes PTH, ionized calcium, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D. This assay will detect metabolites of cholecalciferol (rat poisons, vitamin D supplements), but it will not detect toxicity due to calcitriol (Rocaltrol) or calcipotriene (Dovonex – anti-psoriasis cream).