Calcium

Thyroid

Report in 4Hrs

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No Fasting Required

Details

Evaluates serum calcium, essential for bones, muscle function, nerve signaling, and cardiac health.

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Calcium Test Information Guide

Why is it done?
- Measures total calcium levels in the blood to assess bone health, muscle function, and nerve transmission
- Evaluates parathyroid gland function and kidney disease progression
- Detects disorders affecting calcium metabolism and mineral balance
- Investigates symptoms of hypercalcemia (excessive calcium) or hypocalcemia (low calcium)
- Monitors bone disease, osteoporosis risk, and vitamin D status
- Ordered as part of routine health screening or when investigating unexplained muscle cramps, weakness, or cardiac irregularities
Normal Range
- Standard Reference Range: 8.5 - 10.2 mg/dL (or 2.12 - 2.55 mmol/L)
- Units of Measurement: Milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or millimoles per liter (mmol/L)
- Normal Result (8.5 - 10.2 mg/dL): Calcium levels are within optimal range for bone health, muscle function, and metabolic processes
- High Result (>10.2 mg/dL): Hypercalcemia - indicates elevated blood calcium that may require further investigation
- Low Result (<8.5 mg/dL): Hypocalcemia - indicates low blood calcium that may affect muscle and nerve function
- Note: Reference ranges may vary slightly between laboratories. Age and albumin levels can influence interpretation.
Interpretation
- High Calcium (Hypercalcemia >10.2 mg/dL): May indicate parathyroid hormone overproduction, malignancy, excessive vitamin D intake, or hyperthyroidism. Symptoms may include nausea, weakness, confusion, kidney stones, and cardiac arrhythmias. Clinical significance depends on degree of elevation and rate of change.
- Low Calcium (Hypocalcemia <8.5 mg/dL): May result from hypoparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, kidney disease, or malabsorption disorders. Symptoms may include muscle cramps, paresthesias, tetany, and in severe cases, seizures or arrhythmias.
- Factors Affecting Results: Albumin levels significantly affect total calcium interpretation (low albumin falsely lowers calcium); ionized calcium is more clinically relevant in certain conditions. Medications (thiazide diuretics, vitamin D supplements), nutritional status, pH balance, and parathyroid hormone levels all influence results.
- Mild Elevation (10.3-11.5 mg/dL): Often asymptomatic but requires monitoring and investigation of underlying cause
- Severe Elevation (>13 mg/dL): Medical emergency requiring immediate intervention to prevent serious complications including cardiac dysfunction and neurological damage
- Borderline Low (8.0-8.4 mg/dL): May warrant further investigation if symptomatic or if trend shows declining levels over time
Associated Organs
- Primary Organ Systems: Parathyroid glands (calcium regulation), kidneys (calcium reabsorption and vitamin D activation), bones (calcium storage), and gastrointestinal tract (calcium absorption)
- Hypercalcemia Associated Conditions: Primary hyperparathyroidism, malignancy (especially lung, breast, kidney cancer), excessive vitamin D supplementation, hyperthyroidism, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, Paget's disease, immobilization, vitamin A toxicity, and milk-alkali syndrome
- Hypocalcemia Associated Conditions: Hypoparathyroidism, chronic kidney disease, vitamin D deficiency, malabsorption disorders, pancreatitis, post-parathyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism, pseudohypoparathyroidism, and hyperphosphatemia
- Potential Complications of Abnormal Calcium: High calcium may cause kidney stones, osteoporosis, cardiac arrhythmias, neurological dysfunction, and nephrocalcinosis. Low calcium may result in tetany, seizures, cardiac arrhythmias, muscle spasms, and impaired bone development.
- Diseases Diagnosed/Monitored: Osteoporosis, osteopenia, hyperparathyroidism, kidney disease, malignancy, endocrine disorders, bone metastases, and metabolic disorders
Follow-up Tests
- For Elevated Calcium: Parathyroid hormone (PTH) level, phosphate level, vitamin D (25-OH) level, ionized calcium, albumin level, alkaline phosphatase, magnesium, kidney function tests (creatinine, BUN), chest X-ray or imaging if malignancy suspected
- For Low Calcium: Parathyroid hormone level, phosphate, vitamin D level, ionized calcium, magnesium, albumin, kidney function tests, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, vitamin B12 and folate levels
- Monitoring Frequency: Abnormal results may require repeat testing within 1-2 weeks; chronic conditions monitored every 3-6 months; asymptomatic mild abnormalities may be rechecked in 4-8 weeks
- Complementary Imaging: Bone density scan (DEXA) for osteoporosis evaluation, parathyroid imaging (ultrasound or sestamibi scan) if hyperparathyroidism suspected, abdominal imaging if kidney stones suspected
- Related Laboratory Tests: Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), phosphorus, magnesium, ionized calcium, 24-hour urine calcium, P1NP (bone formation marker), CTX (bone resorption marker)
Fasting Required?
- Fasting Status: No - Fasting is NOT required for a calcium test
- Food and Drink: Can eat and drink normally before the test. Calcium levels remain stable regardless of dietary intake around test time.
- Medications to Avoid: Do NOT stop calcium or vitamin D supplements unless specifically instructed by physician; inform healthcare provider of all medications including thiazide diuretics, corticosteroids, vitamin D supplements, and medications affecting parathyroid function. Lithium may affect PTH and calcium levels.
- Patient Preparation: Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing with easily accessible arms; arrive well-hydrated; inform phlebotomist of any bleeding disorders or medications affecting blood clotting; have blood drawn in the morning if possible for consistency
- Special Considerations: Test may be part of routine checkup or comprehensive metabolic panel; if ordered alone, typically takes 5-10 minutes; results usually available within 24-48 hours; certain conditions may affect albumin and require concurrent albumin measurement for proper interpretation

How our test process works!