Ceruloplasmin Test
Reviewed
Also called: Ceruloplasmin blood test, Serum ceruloplasmin, CP test, Copper oxidase test, Ferroxidase test
A ceruloplasmin test measures the amount of ceruloplasmin in a sample of your blood.
Specimen: Blood
Why this test may be ordered
- Symptoms of Wilson disease (nausea, jaundice, tremors, eye rings, etc.)
- Family history of Wilson disease
- Symptoms of copper deficiency (low white blood cells, osteoporosis, fatigue, tingling)
- Symptoms of Menkes syndrome in infants (colorless hair, floppy muscles, seizures)
- Monitoring known copper imbalance or treatment effectiveness
Preparation and collection
You don't need any special preparations for a ceruloplasmin test.
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. This usually takes less than five minutes.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
Understanding results
The results of a ceruloplasmin test alone cannot diagnose any conditions. The meaning of your test results will depend on the results of other tests, including tests that measure the amount of copper in your blood and/or urine.
- Lower than normal ceruloplasmin: In general, lower than normal ceruloplasmin levels may mean your body is not able to use copper properly. Low ceruloplasmin may be a sign of: Wilson disease, although ceruloplasmin levels are sometimes normal with this disease, Menkes syndrome, Severe liver disease, Kidney disease, A lack of copper caused by malnutrition and/or malabsorption Limitation: The results of a ceruloplasmin test alone cannot diagnose any conditions. Next step: Ask your provider to explain what your ceruloplasmin levels say about your health.
- Higher than normal ceruloplasmin: Higher than normal ceruloplasmin levels may be linked to: Heart disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, Leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, Infection, inflammation, or injury Limitation: But high levels of ceruloplasmin don't always mean you have a condition that needs medical treatment. Pregnancy, birth control pills, and certain medicines, including estrogen therapy to treat menopause, may cause high blood ceruloplasmin. Next step: If you have questions about your results, talk with your provider.
- A ceruloplasmin test alone cannot diagnose any condition. Your provider will consider all test results, symptoms, medical history, and family history.
- Low ceruloplasmin levels may be normal in some people with Wilson disease.
- High ceruloplasmin levels can be caused by pregnancy, birth control pills, estrogen therapy, or other factors not related to disease.
What to do next
To make a diagnosis, your provider will consider all your test results along with your symptoms, medical history, and family history. If you have questions about your results, talk with your provider.
- What is a ceruloplasmin test?
- Why might I need this test?
- What do the results mean?
- What are the risks?
- How should I prepare?
Evidence source
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Practices and reference ranges may differ in your country.