Copper - Serum in Raj Bhawan, Hyderabad

The human body requires between 50 and 80 milligrams of copper to function effectively. It is possible to meet the daily dietary requirement of copper through intake of copper-rich foods. Once the micronutrient has been consumed, it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Copper is carried throughout the body by ceruloplasmin, a protein it binds to once it enters the body. However, in some cases, it does not bind to ceruloplasmin and remains in the blood as free copper.

High levels of free copper in the bloodstream can be exceedingly harmful. The eyes, brain, and renal tissue will start to absorb the free copper. The function of these organs is impaired as the copper begins to accumulate by damaging the surrounding cells.

Wilson's disorder is an ailment that interferes with the body's ability to eliminate copper from the body. Due to the condition, the levels of copper in the blood continue to rise. The liver, which is tasked with converting extra copper into waste so it can leave the body, contains a significant amount of the body's copper.

With Wilson's disease, the liver cannot properly filter copper, resulting in blood levels of free copper that can be up to six times higher than in a healthy person. The irises (colored part of an eye) of people with severe Wilson's disease may have a coppery ring around them. Wilson's disorder is most frequently detected through a Copper Plasma test, sometimes called a Copper Serum test.

The Copper Serum test employs a blood serum sample to measure the amount of free copper in an individual’s bloodstream. The component of a person's blood that is neither a red blood cell nor a white blood cell nor a blood clotting substance is known as blood serum. All the proteins, hormones, minerals, and electrolytes that are present in the blood are therefore present in blood serum.

Doctors may suspect Wilson's disorder or excessive consumption of copper-containing nutritional supplements if free copper concentrations are too high. The latter is the most frequent cause of unusually high copper blood concentrations. Copper toxicity can manifest itself in the form of the following:

• Jaundice
• Diarrhoea and vomiting
• Blood in the urine
• Metallic aftertaste 
• Drop in blood pressure

Copper Serum test results that are excessively low, which are relatively uncommon, may indicate malnutrition. It can also be a result of Menkes syndrome, a genetic illness that typically manifests in infancy and is sometimes deadly. The following are the most prominent signs of a copper deficit:

• Extreme weariness
• Hair loss
• Lack of magnesium
• Overabundance of zinc

Premature infants are more likely to experience copper deficiency and frequently need to consume copper supplements. People who suffer from eating disorders that limit food consumption and absorption are also at risk of a copper deficiency.

The Copper Serum test offered by Apollo 24|7 is a quick and reliable way to determine all the disorders mentioned above and examine their manifestation. A needle is used during the test to draw a blood sample from a vein.

Consult your doctor or the lab performing the test for more information on the necessary safety measures. If the test results are higher than anticipated, your doctor may want to validate the test results by repeating the Copper Serum test with a fresh sample.