A clinic must allocate funds for mineral testing. Given the major/trace classification and typical pathological consequences, which combined testing strategy is the most defensible?

• A. Prioritize serum electrolyte panel (sodium, potassium, chloride), calcium, and ferritin/hemoglobin for iron assessment because electrolytes and calcium have immediate clinical impact and iron deficiency has high prevalence and functional consequences.
• B. Limit testing to urine pH and general metabolic panel results without any specific mineral assays because laboratory budgets should never fund targeted micronutrient analysis in primary care settings.
• C. Perform an exhaustive panel including all 16 minerals for every patient regardless of symptoms because comprehensive testing always yields actionable public health information irrespective of cost or pretest probability.
• D. Only screen for rare trace elements like molybdenum and chromium because they are less commonly measured and thus more valuable for research even though they rarely change clinical management in primary care.

Answer: (A)