Zinc Deficiency Test | Zinc Level Blood Test

Zinc Test

This test can help determine the level of zinc in your blood. Zinc is an essential trace mineral, needed in small amounts, to help activate over 300 enzymes in your body. Zinc helps to build and protect DNA, grow cells, heal wounds, build proteins, and strengthen your immune system. Read more

Test details

Sample type:

Blood

Preparation:

Fasting is not required for this test. If you are taking vitamins, or a vitamin supplement, containing zinc, you should consult your doctor to determine if you should stop taking them for at least one week before your sample is collected.

Test type: In Person

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$59.00

+ $6.00 Physician Service Fee

Quantity

About the Test

This zinc blood test can help determine the amount of zinc you have in your blood. Zinc is an essential trace mineral, needed in small amounts, to help activate over 300 enzymes in your body. Zinc helps to build and protect DNA, grow cells, heal wounds, build proteins, and strengthen your immune system. It can help reduce oxidative stress (when free radicals outnumber antioxidants), inflammation, and the risk of infection. Zinc is especially important during times when the body is changing quickly, such as during childhood or pregnancy.

Identifying and addressing nutrient deficiencies are important steps toward better health. Your body does not produce most vitamins and minerals, so you must get them from food or supplements. How nutrients work in your body is influenced by more than just what you eat. These factors include genetics, age, health conditions, medications, metabolism, and how well your body absorbs nutrients.

Buy your own zinc test online with Quest. No doctor’s visit is required – simply purchase zinc testing, visit a nearby Quest® location for sample collection, and get fast results.

The Zinc Test measures the level of zinc in your blood. Zinc is an essential trace mineral, needed in small amounts, to help activate over 300 enzymes in your body. Zinc helps to build and protect DNA, grow cells, heal wounds, build proteins, and strengthen your immune system. It can help reduce oxidative stress (when free radicals outnumber antioxidants), inflammation, and the risk of infection. Zinc is especially important during times when the body is changing quickly, such as during childhood or pregnancy. Zinc measurements are used to detect and monitor industrial, dietary, and accidental exposure to zinc. When zinc levels are out of balance, due to a vitamin deficiency or certain medical conditions, then these processes are not performed properly.

If you don’t eat enough zinc-rich foods, or if your body doesn’t store or absorb enough of it, you may have low levels. Too little zinc may cause weakness, loss of appetite, and weight loss. It may also cause skin changes, vision problems, slow wound healing, irritability, hair loss, and frequent infections. Excessive zinc levels can interfere with the absorption of other essential nutrients like copper and iron.

Our bodies cannot make zinc, so we must get it from food or supplements. Although the zinc found naturally in meats is more completely absorbed than through plant foods, it is also found in eggs, legumes, mushrooms, tofu, tempeh, legumes, nuts, seeds, oysters, and seafood.

Signs and symptoms of low zinc include:

Skin changes
Vision problems
Hair loss
Frequent infections
Slow wound healing
Irritability
Weakness
Loss of appetite
Weight loss

Signs and symptoms of high zinc include:

Lethargy and fatigue
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal pain

If you experience these more severe symptoms, SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION:

Trouble breathing/shortness of breath
Chest pain

You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a test on questhealth.com. This test requires specimen collection at a Quest Diagnostics location or through Quest Mobile™, a convenient option for in-home sample collection*. Collection not available in AK, AZ, or HI.

*Check your zip code here for service availability, not available in all locations.

After you provide your specimen, it generally takes a few business days to process and release your test results. However, processing times may vary. Your test results will be available in a clear and easy-to-read report. If you receive abnormal results, you will receive an alert call from an independent healthcare coordinator to discuss next steps. Independent physicians are available to discuss questions or concerns you may have regarding your results.

How it works

questhealth.com offers 100+ consumer-initiated Quest Diagnostics lab tests to empower you to have more control over your health journey. Choose from a variety of test types that best suit your needs.

In-person
In-home sample collection

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No doctor visit is required for purchase.

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Register your test
& schedule an appointment

Book a visit to one of 2000+ Quest locations.

Visit Quest for sample collection

Complete your test sample collection during your scheduled appointment.

Get fast results

Access results online as soon as they’re available. You will be emailed when they are ready. Discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost. Treatment options may be available.

Buy a lab test
+ in-home sample collection

No doctor visit required for purchase. If in-home service is available in your area, purchase for an additional $79 fee.

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Register your test
& schedule an appointment

After you make a purchase, register your test and Quest Mobile will contact you to schedule an in-home sample collection appointment.

In-home sample collection

A Quest Mobile phlebotomist will collect your sample and deliver it to Quest Diagnostics.

Get fast results

Access results online as soon as they’re available. You will be emailed when they are ready. Discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost. Treatment options may be available.

FAQs

Would taking supplements be helpful if I am deficient in zinc?

If your body is not absorbing certain nutrients properly, your doctor may suggest you consider taking a supplement for that nutrient. While it is unlikely to get too much of a nutrient if you are taking a supplement, getting too much, known as toxicity, is possible. Excessive zinc levels can interfere with the absorption of other essential nutrients like copper and iron. It's recommended to confirm a deficiency through testing and talk with your doctor prior to taking supplements.

What are antioxidants?

Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or slow damage to cells caused by oxidative stress. They interact with toxins called free radicals, to minimize their damage. Antioxidants can help prevent diseases like cancer and reduce your risk of heart disease.

What are enzymes and coenzymes?

An enzyme is a protein that helps to start, or speed up, a reaction in the body. A coenzyme is a non-protein molecule that helps an enzyme to perform that reaction.

Can I use my FSA or HSA funds to purchase tests at questhealth.com?

You may be able to use your FSA or HSA funds to purchase lab tests at questhealth.com. Please review your FSA/HSA plan or check with a tax professional to confirm specific requirements for individual eligibility.

Our references

1. National Library of Medicine. Zinc Toxicity. Accessed February 3, 2025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2407097/

2. National Institutes of Health. Zinc. Accessed February 3, 2025. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/

Tests purchased on questhealth.com are only for individuals who intend to pay directly for testing and do not want to submit a claim for reimbursement under their health insurance.

Zinc Test