Calcium (Serum) Test

A calcium blood test measures the amount of calcium in the blood. Calcium is one of the most important minerals in your body. You need calcium to have healthy bones and teeth. Calcium is also essential for the proper functioning of your nerves, muscles and heart. About 99% of your body’s calcium is stored in your bones. The remaining 1% circulates in the blood. If there is too much or too little calcium in the blood, it can be a sign of bone disease, thyroid disease, kidney disease or other medical conditions.

i. When blood calcium levels get low is called hypocalcemia.
ii. When blood calcium levels get high is called Hypercalcemia.

Also Known as: Calcium, Total Calcium, Ionized Calcium , Ca

Test Panel: Phosphorus, Vitamin D, Parathyroid Hormone, Magnesium, Urine Calcium

Types of Calcium Test:

1. A total calcium test measures both free and bound calcium. It’s the type of blood calcium test doctors order most often.
2. An ionized calcium test measures only free calcium.

Why Get Tested:

• calcium level is used to evaluate the function and metabolism of the parathyroid.
• calcium level is used to control kidney failure and kidney transplantation.
• calcium level is used to assess hyperparathyroidism.
• calcium levels can be performed in malignant tumors such as multiple myeloma.
• calcium levels can be made to control the level of calcium before and after blood transfusions.

When to get Tested:

• As part of a routine metabolic panel
• When you have symptoms of a disorder, or known presence of one, affecting your kidneys, bones, thyroid, parathyroid, or nerves
• When symptoms of significantly increased or decreased calcium concentrations are present.
• when someone is critically ill, to monitor ionized calcium levels
• When someone has certain types of cancer
• When someone is being treated for abnormal calcium levels
• To evaluate the effectiveness of treatment

Sample Required:

• It is performed in the patient’s serum.
• Blood should be collected without much pressure on the arm.
  • Avoid prolonged tourniquet.
• EDTA cannot be used as an anticoagulant for plasma.
• Obtain blood with minimal venous occlusion and without exercise or after restoring circulation.
• The serum is stable for 8 hours at 22 to 25°C. But it can be maintained at 4°C for a longer period.

Precaution for Sample:

• Fasting sample is preferred.
• Venous stasis or upright posture increased the calcium level by 0.6 mg / dL.
• There is diurnal variation, greater in PM than in AM.
• Separate immediately from red blood cells to avoid calcium absorption by these cells (red blood cells).
• Excessive milk intake leads to an increase in calcium levels.
• Vitamin D poisoning also increases the level of calcium.
• Check the level of albumin because hypoalbuminemia leads to an artificial decrease in the level of calcium.
• Drugs can increase the level of serum calcium such as calcium salts, alkaline antacids, thiazide diuretics, vitamin D, parathyroid and thyroid hormones and androgens.
• Drugs can lower the level of calcium such as aspirin, anticonvulsants, heparin, laxatives, diuretics, magnesium salts and oral contraceptives.

Normal Values:

• Total Calcium:
  • Infant to one month = 7.0 to 11.5 mg/dL.
  • One month to one year = 8.6 to 10.2 mg/ dL.
  • Adult = 9 to 10.5 mg/dL.
• Ionized calcium
  • Whole blood adult = 4.65 to 5.28 mg/dL (1.175 to 1.375 mmol/L)
  • Newborn = 4.20 to 5.58 mg/dL.
  • The ratio of ionized Ca⁺⁺ to total Ca⁺⁺ = 48 to 56%.
• Urine Calcium:
  • Average Calcium diet is 800 mg/day.
  • See on Urine Calcium

Symptoms of high calcium levels include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• More frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite

Symptoms of low calcium levels include:

• Tingling in the lips, tongue, fingers, and feet
• Muscle cramps
• Muscle spasms
• Irregular heartbeat

Increased Level of Calcium is seen in: >10.5mg/dl

• Hyperparathyroidism.
• Hyperthyroidism.
• Metastatic bone tumor of lung, breast, and kidney.
• Milk-alkali syndrome.
• Multiple myelomas.
• Paget’s disease.
• Sarcoidosis.
• Tumors producing a PTH-like substance.
• Vitamin D intoxication.
• Excessive calcium intake.
• Prolonged immobilization.
• Thiazide diuretics.
• Withdrawal of steroids.
• The majority (80 to 90 %) of the hypercalcemia cases are due to hyperparathyroidism or malignancy.

Decrease level of Calcium of Calsium is seen in: < 8.5mg/dl

• Hypoparathyroidism.
• Pseudohypoparathyroidism is due to a lack of response to PTH.
• Malabsorption (inadequate absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract).
• Hypoalbuminemia.
• Osteomalacia
• Pancreatitis
• Renal failure (chronic).
• Rickets and vitamin D deficiency
• Liver disease (decreased albumin production).
• Hypomagnesemia.

Natural Foods Source Of Calcium: