Calcium
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Evaluates serum calcium, essential for bones, muscle function, nerve signaling, and cardiac health.
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🧪 Calcium (Serum Calcium Test)
Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
Sample Type | Blood (serum or plasma) |
Fasting Required | ✅ Recommended (usually 8–12 hours) |
Primary Organ | Bones, parathyroid glands, kidneys, and intestines |
Main Uses | Assess bone health, parathyroid function, kidney disease, cancer, and calcium metabolism disorders |
🔬 What is Calcium and Why is it Important?
Calcium is a vital mineral required for:
- Bone and teeth strength
- Muscle contraction
- Nerve signal transmission
- Blood clotting
- Enzyme activity
About 99% of body calcium is in bones, while the rest is in blood (as free/ionized and bound forms).
📈 Normal Ranges
Population | Serum Calcium Range |
|---|---|
Adults | 8.6 – 10.2 mg/dL |
Children | 8.8 – 10.8 mg/dL |
Ionized Calcium | 4.6 – 5.3 mg/dL |
Note: Calcium levels are often interpreted along with albumin, because albumin binds calcium.
🧪 Types of Calcium Tests
Test Type | Use |
|---|---|
Total Calcium | Measures both free (ionized) and bound calcium |
Ionized Calcium | Measures physiologically active calcium |
Corrected Calcium | Adjusts for albumin levels |
24-hour Urine Calcium | Measures calcium excretion by kidneys |
🔍 Why is Calcium Tested?
Clinical Use | Purpose |
|---|---|
🦴 Bone health | Detect osteoporosis, rickets, osteomalacia |
🧠 Parathyroid function | Diagnose hyperparathyroidism or hypoparathyroidism |
🩺 Kidney function | Calcium affected in CKD, kidney stones |
🧪 Cancer monitoring | Some cancers cause high calcium (esp. lung, breast, myeloma) |
💊 Drug monitoring | Diuretics, lithium, vitamin D, and calcium supplements |
⚠️ Causes of High & Low Calcium
🔺 High Calcium (Hypercalcemia)
Possible Cause | Example |
|---|---|
Primary hyperparathyroidism | Overactive parathyroid glands |
Cancer | Lung, breast, myeloma |
Excess vitamin D or calcium intake | Supplements |
Sarcoidosis or TB | Granulomatous diseases |
Thiazide diuretics | Reduce calcium excretion |
🔻 Low Calcium (Hypocalcemia)
Possible Cause | Example |
|---|---|
Hypoparathyroidism | After neck surgery |
Vitamin D deficiency | Rickets, osteomalacia |
Kidney failure | Reduced calcium reabsorption |
Low albumin | Misleadingly low total calcium |
Acute pancreatitis | Calcium shifts to tissues |
🔁 Related Tests to Do With Calcium
Test | Why It's Ordered Together |
|---|---|
Phosphorus | Balances with calcium in bones |
PTH (Parathyroid Hormone) | Direct regulator of calcium |
Vitamin D (25-OH) | Helps calcium absorption in intestines |
Albumin | Required for corrected calcium calculation |
Magnesium | Co-factor for PTH function |
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) | Marker for bone turnover |
Creatinine / eGFR | Kidney function check |
📋 Summary Table
Test | Calcium (Serum) |
|---|---|
Fasting Required | Recommended (8–12 hours) |
Normal Range | 8.6 – 10.2 mg/dL |
Interpreted With | Albumin, Phosphorus, Vitamin D, PTH |
High Levels Indicate | Hyperparathyroidism, cancer, vitamin D excess |
Low Levels Indicate | Hypoparathyroidism, kidney disease, vitamin D deficiency |
Common Symptoms | Muscle cramps, tingling, bone pain, kidney stones |
How our test process works!
