Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 14, 2026
05:35
Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization
Published on: April 19, 2017
7.1K
Elevated zinc concentrations in a 5 months old infant: A case report
Eva Rabing Brix Petersen1, Sven Mortensen2, Mads Nybo1
1Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
Biochemia Medica
|February 24, 2018
Summary
Elevated zinc levels in an infant were caused by external contamination from zinc oxide ointment applied to the capillary blood sampling site. This highlights the importance of considering pre-analytical contamination in laboratory diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Laboratory Medicine
- Pediatric Diagnostics
Background:
- Pre-analytical errors represent a significant portion of laboratory-associated errors.
- Accurate laboratory testing is crucial for effective patient diagnosis and management.
Observation:
- An infant exhibited unexpectedly high serum zinc concentrations (20.2 µmol/L, rising to 42.4 µmol/L) during routine testing.
- No clinical signs of zinc toxicity were present, and laboratory assay performance was satisfactory.
Findings:
- The elevated zinc levels were traced to the application of a vitamin E ointment containing zinc oxide at the capillary blood collection site.
- Subsequent blood sampling from an uncontaminated site yielded a normal zinc concentration (14.3 µmol/L).
Implications:
- External contamination, particularly from topical ointments, can significantly impact capillary blood sample results.
- Healthcare professionals must be vigilant for pre-analytical contamination sources to ensure diagnostic accuracy.
Related Concept Videos
03:12Freezing Point Depression and Boiling Point Elevation
40.7K
Boiling Point Elevation
The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which its vapor pressure is equal to ambient atmospheric pressure. Since the vapor pressure of a solution is lowered due to the presence of nonvolatile solutes, it stands to reason that the solution’s boiling point will subsequently be increased. Vapor pressure increases with temperature, and so a solution will require a higher temperature than will pure solvent to achieve any given vapor pressure, including one...
The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which its vapor pressure is equal to ambient atmospheric pressure. Since the vapor pressure of a solution is lowered due to the presence of nonvolatile solutes, it stands to reason that the solution’s boiling point will subsequently be increased. Vapor pressure increases with temperature, and so a solution will require a higher temperature than will pure solvent to achieve any given vapor pressure, including one...
40.7K
01:045-Number Summary
5.7K
In a dataset, the 5-number summary includes the minimum data value, the data value of the first quartile, the median data value or data value of the second quartile, the data value of the third quartile, and the maximum data value. These 5 data values can be visualized as a box and whisker plot.
In a box plot, the minimum and maximum data values represent the lower and upper whiskers in the graph, and the median is designated as the center of the box in the chart. The first quartile and third...
In a box plot, the minimum and maximum data values represent the lower and upper whiskers in the graph, and the median is designated as the center of the box in the chart. The first quartile and third...
5.7K
01:20Elevation of Intermediate Points on Vertical Curves
308
Vertical curves are essential in roadway design because they provide smooth transitions between varying roadway grades. Designing vertical curves involves calculating intermediate elevations and identifying the curve's highest or lowest point, which is essential for optimal roadway performance.Intermediate elevations on a vertical curve are determined using the tangent offset method. This method considers the initial elevation at the start of the curve, the grades, and the curve's geometry. The...
308
02:41Concentration Cells
25.9K
A concentration cell is a type of a voltaic cell constructed by connecting two almost identical half-cells, both based on the same half-reaction and using the same electrode, differing only in the concentration of one redox species. A concentration cell's potential, therefore, is determined only by the concentration difference of the particular redox species.
Consider the following voltaic cell:
Consider the following voltaic cell:
25.9K
01:24Data Reporting and Recording
5.5K
Reporting and recording are crucial in data documentation. The timely, thorough, and accurate documentation of facts is essential when recording patient data. Failure to record findings during an assessment or interpretation of a problem will result in loss of information and make the patient document unreliable. The reader is left with general impressions if the information is not specific. A recording is documenting data of the individual's health information in a traceable, secure, and...
5.5K
02:59Solution Concentration and Dilution
135.3K
The relative amount of a given solution component is known as its concentration. Often, though not always, a solution contains one component with a concentration that is significantly greater than that of all other components. This component is called the solvent and may be viewed as the medium in which the other components are dispersed or dissolved. Solutions in which water is the solvent are, of course, very common on our planet. A solution in which water is the solvent is called an aqueous...
135.3K