S-Copper (serum copper) is a biomarker used to measure the concentration of copper in the blood serum. Copper is an essential trace element that participates in several enzymatic processes and plays an important role in the body's redox system, iron metabolism, connective tissue formation and in the function of the central nervous system.
Medical significance of the analysis of s-copper
Copper in serum is mostly bound to the transport protein ceruloplasmin. Changes in the S-copper value can therefore reflect changes in both copper status and ceruloplasmin levels, which is important to consider when interpreting the sample.
Low levels of serum-copper
- Copper deficiency, e.g. in case of malnutrition or malabsorption (e.g. celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease)
- Prolonged zinc supplementation (zinc inhibits copper absorption)
- Congenital conditions such as Menkes disease
Elevated levels of s-copper
- Acute and chronic inflammatory conditions (ceruloplasmin is an acute phase protein)
- Pregnancy (physiological increase)
- Liver diseases and cholestasis
- Wilson's disease (may have elevated or lowered S-copper depending on stage and ceruloplasmin levels)
Indications for s-copper sampling
- Investigation of suspected copper deficiency or excess
- Suspected Wilson's disease (in combination with other analyses: P-copper, ceruloplasmin, U-copper)
- Follow-up in chronic liver disease
Reference range for S-copper
| Age group | Reference range (µmol/L) |
|---|---|
| Children |