Copper is absorbed from the small intestine. It is stored in the body in bone marrow and other tissues. Most of the serum copper is bound to caeruloplasmin, the rest is loosely bound to albumin. Copper can also bind to transferrin and therefore raised copper levels can be found in iron deficiency anaemias.
Increases of serum copper can be seen in a variety of disorders, usually as a result of increases in caeruloplasmin levels e.g., infection, inflammation, acute leukaemia, aplastic anaemia, haemochromatosis, and in Hodgkins disease where a response to treatment can be judged by a fall in serum copper levels (often to normal levels). In females, elevated serum copper may also be caused by oral contraceptives and pregnancy.
Low serum copper levels can occur when there is poor synthesis of proteins, dietary lack of copper, or if there is impairment of copper absorption. Mega doses of zinc supplements can interfere with normal copper absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. A rare cause of low serum copper is Menkes disease (kinky hair syndrome), a congenital X-linked genetic disorder caused by a defect in the transport protein mediating copper uptake from the intestine, resulting in severe copper deficiency with progressive neurologic deterioration and death during early childhood.
In Wilson disease serum copper is typically low in proportion to the reduction in ceruloplasmin. However, in acute liver failure due to Wilson Disease, serum copper may be markedly elevated.
Lipids/Trace Metals
PCU
Gross haemolysis OK, gross lipemia OK, gross icterus OK
Ambient 28 days, refrigerated (preferred) 28 days, frozen 28 days
5 days
4264