Selenium

ChemistryAlso known as: SeAlso known as: Elemental seleniumAlso known as: Serum seleniumug/L

Measures selenium concentration in the blood.

Normal Range

100 – 190 ug/L

ug/L

Abnormal Levels

Consult your provider

Specimen Type

Blood

Why This Biomarker Matters

Identifies selenium deficiency, which impairs thyroid function and immune health. Supplementation in deficient individuals restores antioxidant protection and metabolic function.

Understanding Your Results

Normal Range

100 – 190 ug/L

Overview

Selenium is a trace mineral essential for thyroid function, antioxidant protection, and immune health. This test measures selenium levels in blood to assess nutritional status. Deficiency is rare in developed countries but can occur with severe malnutrition, kidney disease, or after bariatric surgery. Low selenium impairs thyroid function, weakens immunity, and reduces antioxidant protection. Excessive intake is also harmful. Testing helps identify deficiency in at-risk populations and guides supplementation decisions.

Research & Evidence

100 publications

Sort:

Selenium nanoparticles as adjunctive therapy in sepsis: A pilot randomized clinical trial.

Drug Resist Updat · 2026

PMID: 41825095

Endogenous Mechanisms of Selenium-Induced Antagonism against Cadmium Toxicity in Crops: Integration and Reconstruction of a Multilevel Defense Network.

J Agric Food Chem · 2026

PMID: 41980076

An atlas of plant selenium metabolism.

New Phytol · 2026

PMID: 41840431

Selenium-Based Nanoplatforms: An Emerging Theranostic Paradigm for Gynecological Cancers.

Adv Sci (Weinh) · 2026

PMID: 42023987

Hydrogeochemical Characteristics and Quality Assessment of Groundwater in Xingtai Selenium-Enriched Area, Central North China.

Water Environ Res · 2026

PMID: 42052753

Phycocyanin-functionalized selenium nanoparticles attenuate osteoarthritis through ferroptosis suppression and modulation of the MAPK pathway.

Mater Today Bio · 2026

PMID: 42028284

Antagonistic effects of selenium on methylmercury-induced toxicity through mitochondrial quality control and enhanced GSH synthesis in Caenorhabditis elegans.

J Environ Sci (China) · 2026

PMID: 41887845

Predicting blood levels of mercury and selenium in Amazonian riverines: A machine learning approach based on questionnaire data.

Chemosphere · 2026

PMID: 41965199

The association between household pesticide exposure and anemia is modified by dietary selenium intake: a population-based study.

Hematology · 2026

PMID: 41981763

Selenium protects granulosa cells from 3-nitropropionic acid-induced oxidative toxicity by regulating TRPM2-induced cell death.

Reprod Toxicol · 2026

PMID: 41912122

Research data from MEDLINE/PubMed · 100 articles

Technical Information (LOINC Codes)

Standardized laboratory codes for this biomarker

5724-0Primary

Selenium [Mass/volume] in Serum or Plasma

ng/mL

23779-2

Selenium [Mass/volume] in Specimen

ug/L

5723-2

Selenium [Mass/volume] in Red Blood Cells

ug/L

5727-3

Selenium [Mass/time] in 24 hour Urine

ug/(24.h)

5726-5

Selenium [Mass/volume] in Urine

ng/mL

5722-4

Selenium [Mass/volume] in Blood

ug/L

47976-6

Selenium [Mass/volume] in 24 hour Urine

ug/L

50903-4

Selenium [Moles/volume] in Urine

umol/L

50904-2

Selenium [Moles/mass] in Hair

nmol/g

52889-3

Selenium [Moles/mass] in Tissue

nmol/g

52908-1

Selenium [Moles/time] in 24 hour Urine

umol/(24.h)

52913-1

Selenium [Moles/volume] in Red Blood Cells

umol/L

54925-3

Selenium [Mass/volume] in Semen

ug/L

5725-7

Selenium [Mass/mass] in Tissue

ug/g

58026-6

Selenium [Mass/volume] in Nonbiological fluid

ug/L

59737-7

Selenium [Mass/mass] in Nail

ug/g

78696-2

Selenium [Moles/volume] in Blood

umol/L

87453-7

Selenium [Mass/mass] in Specimen

ug/g

17574-5

Selenium [Mass/volume] in Body fluid

ug/L

9483-9

Selenium [Mass/volume] in Water

[ppm]

20960-1

Selenium [Mass/mass] in Gastric fluid

ug/g

20961-9

Selenium [Mass/mass] in Feed

ug/g

25521-6

Selenium [Moles/volume] in Serum or Plasma

umol/L

29499-1

Selenium [Mass/mass] in Hair

ug/g

30927-8

Selenium [Mass/volume] in Urine collected for unspecified duration

ug/L

Available Lab Tests

Order tests that measure this biomarker

Selenium (RBC)

$94.00

Results in 3-5 business days

Selenium (Serum)

$49.45

Results in 3-5 business days