Explanation

Tin (urine): what is measured?

The analysis measures how much tin leaves the body in the urine. Tin is a soft metal found in bronze, solder and amalgam dental fillings and used to line food cans. There are also organic tin compounds, which are used in some plastics, pesticides and paints. Metallic tin is poorly absorbed in the gut.

What can it detect?

A recent, unusually high exposure to tin or tin compounds, for example at work

Result

What does the result mean?

Tin (urine) too high

A raised value may fit a recent, unusually high exposure to tin, for example at work. According to the ATSDR, the test does not show when or exactly how much tin someone has taken in. Swallowing large amounts of inorganic tin compounds can cause abdominal pain, anemia and liver and kidney problems; some organic tin compounds can affect the nervous system.

Tin (urine) too low

A low or unmeasurable value is normal. The body does not need tin, so there is no such thing as a deficiency.

After an abnormal result

With a raised result, the GP looks for the source, together with the occupational physician if needed, and has the measurement repeated if needed.

Reliability

How reliable is the test?

Tin in urine is mainly informative when a recent, unusually high exposure is suspected; in people without known exposure, a single value says little. Everyone has a small amount of tin in the body from food. According to the ATSDR, the test can help determine whether someone has recently taken in an unusually large amount of tin, but not when or how much. The test does not distinguish between metallic tin and organic tin compounds, although they act very differently.

What can affect the result?

A single urine sample depends strongly on how much you have drunk; the result is easier to compare when it is expressed per gram of creatinine, which requires measuring creatinine in the same sample.
The test measures total tin and does not distinguish between metallic tin, which is not very harmful, and organic tin compounds.
There are no agreed cutoff values; the limit between normal and raised comes from the laboratory itself.

Who it is for

Who is the test useful for?

Useful for

Useful with known or suspected high exposure to tin or tin compounds at work, usually in consultation with the occupational physician. In people without symptoms and without known exposure, the measurement adds nothing.

How common is it?

According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), tin is found in cans, but a coating on the inside prevents the tin from getting into the food. According to the ATSDR, more than 90 percent of tin-lined food cans are treated with such a protective layer. There are no Dutch figures on tin poisoning.

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) and ATSDR

Drawbacks and risks

A diluted or, conversely, concentrated urine sample can give a raised or low result that has nothing to do with exposure.
A slightly raised value without symptoms easily leads to worry and to unnecessary follow-up testing.

Get tested

Tin (urine): test panels

Tin (urine) is part of these test panels. You order online and have your blood drawn at a collection point or collect the sample at home.

Urine · 2 analyses
Tin
Measures tin in your urine and shows whether you have recently taken in an unusually large amount of tin. For anyone who works with tin or tin compounds.
€ 62,00

Evidence

Sources

This explanation is based on Dutch guidelines and independent information. It is general information, not a diagnosis. Discuss an abnormal result with your GP.

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