Calcium (Ca) Test
Booked 822 timesAlso known as:
Ca+2 or Ca++, Serum Calcium, Osteoporosis - Calcium Level Test
Blood
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Serum
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Overview
Macromineral calcium is needed for teeth and bone formation, blood coagulation, the release of hormones and sustaining neurological functions in our body. Most of it is stored in the bones. Being a double-edged sword, calcium's toxicity and deficiency can lead to some fatal issues. Thus, its level must lie within the normal calcium range.
A calcium blood test means testing the amount of calcium present in your blood. The amount that reflects finally is useful for screening, diagnosing and monitoring for calcium-regulation disorders. Calcium levels are used to diagnose bones, teeth, kidneys, pancreas, heart and nervous system disorders.
Serum calcium tests will not indicate the amount of calcium present in the bones or the lack of calcium in your diet. To know about bone health, your doctor will advise a bone density scan or a DEXA scan.
Based on your history and symptoms, the doctor will prescribe a blood calcium test to assess the functioning of various organs of the body, including for the following reasons:
- Kidneys or renal failure
- Parathyroid glands to screen for seizures or tetany, spasms or muscle cramps
- Pancreas to detect any inflammation resulting in pancreatitis
- A particular variety of cancer
- Osteomalacia in adults and rickets in children
- Heart for cardiac arrhythmia
It can also be prescribed as part of routine blood tests to screen for any dormant/subclinical infection or disease.
Other Names of Calcium Test
- Hyperparathyroidism - calcium level
- Total Ca+2 or Ca++
- Serum Calcium
- Osteoporosis - Calcium Level Test
What does the calcium blood test detect/measure and who is this prescribed for?
A calcium blood test or serum calcium measures the amount of calcium in the blood alone. It should not be mistaken for a test of bone calcium levels. Your doctor will advise a bone density scan to detect your bone health status.
Some diseases for which a doctor prescribes a Basal Metabolic Panel to assess calcium level include:
- Kidney disease
- Cancer
- Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
- Malnutrition
- Delirium and dementia
A calcium blood test is prescribed for those experiencing symptoms of either high or low calcium levels in the body. They are:
Symptoms of hypercalcemia or high calcium levels are:
- Increased urination
- Fatigue, headache and body aches
- Loss of appetite and constipation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Depression and lethargy
- Weakness and cramps
Symptoms of hypocalcemia or low calcium levels are:
- Numbness and tingling sensations in the extremities
- Confusion and memory loss episodes
- Irregular heartbeat
- Increased occurrence of bone fractures
- Brittle nails
- Depression and hallucinations
The calcium blood test is applicable for males and females, both adults and children.
Ranges
Name of the test | Normal range (conventional unit mg/dL) | Normal range (SI unit mmol/L) |
Total Calcium (Serum) | 8.6-10.3 mg/dL | 2.2-2.6 mmol/L |
Ionized Calcium (Free) | 4.4-5.2 mg/dL | 1.1-1.3 mmol/L |
Age-based Calcium Test Range
Age (in years) | Normal range (mg/dL) |
Less than 1 year | 8.7-11.0 |
1-17 years | 9.3-10.6 |
18-59 years | 8.6-10.0 |
Above 59 years | 8.4-10.2 |
Test Result Interpretation
Calcium levels can report either hypocalcemia or hypercalcemia, both of which have serious side effects on the body’s functioning. Calcium is distributed in our body as follows:
Type of Calcium | Percentage (%) | |
I | Ionized-calcium or free calcium | 50% |
II | Protein-bound calcium | 41% |
III | Anion-bound calcium | 9% |
The serum calcium or total calcium blood test measures all calcium levels collectively, as opposed to individually. Advanced laboratory techniques and ionized calcium tests are required to measure specific ionized calcium values.
The maximum amount of protein-bound calcium is attached to the plasma protein albumin. One must always interpret total calcium levels with serum albumin concentrations. Any change in serum albumin concentration reflects the fluctuation in calcium too. They are directly proportional and thus, a fall in albumin means a fall in calcium concentration and vice versa.
The two possible interpretations of calcium levels in the body are for:
- Hypercalcemia
- Hypercalcemia symptoms usually appear when the blood calcium level surpasses 11.5 mg/dL.
- It is considered critical when the level is above 12.0 mg/dL.
- Severe hypercalcemia occurs when calcium levels reports reach a lethal limit, 15.0 mg/dL.
- Hypocalcemia
- Calcium level below the normal range is regarded as hypocalcemia.
- Calcium level reports below 7.5-7.6 mg/dL or <1.9 mmol/l need immediate hospital admission and medical treatment.
- Hypocalcemic tetany, i.e., painful muscle spasms, occur when the calcium level falls to 6.0 mg/dL.
- Calcium blood report of 4.0 mg/dL is lethal.
Sample Type
The calcium test results are based on the analysis of a blood sample collected from the arm's vein.
Test Preparation
- Before the test
The procedure for the calcium blood test is not intense. Nowadays, the current practice does not require fasting before sample collection. However, inform your doctor about all the drugs and medications you are on currently. Also, avoid intake of particular medications, like:
- Calcium supplements, as they increase blood calcium levels
- Thiazide diuretics
- Vitamin D
- Thyroxine
- Consumption of excess milk or milk products before the test
Avoid the above overnight, that is, 8-12 hours before the test.
- During the test
A nurse or sample collector will collect the blood sample from an arm vein using a needle.
- After the test
When done hygienically and according to protocol, the calcium test procedure poses no serious threats to an individual. There might be a slight soreness due to needle insertion and lightheadedness.
Test Inclusions: What Parameters are Included?
A calcium blood test solely estimates the amount of calcium present in your blood and not the bones. It is a part of the basic metabolic panel (BMP), a routine screening test.
The results of the calcium blood test must lie within the normal calcium range to confirm the healthy functioning of vital organs and the nervous system. The test accounts for the signs and symptoms of either hypercalcemia (high calcium levels) or hypocalcemia (low calcium levels). Many times it can go undiagnosed due to the asymptomatic nature of hypocalcemia.
Hypercalcemia might be due to:
- Cancer, sometimes bone cancer
- Oversecretion of parathyroid glands
- Certain medications
- Tuberculosis
- Paget's disease of the bone
- Immobility (long bed rest after trauma, surgery, injury, etc.)
Hypocalcemia might be due to:
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Hypoalbuminemia, possibly indicating liver disease
- Malnutrition
- Alcoholism
- Rickets and osteomalacia
How Frequently Should You Take This Test?
A calcium blood test can diagnose rickets, osteomalacia, neurological disorders or cardiac issues. Your doctor will prescribe the calcium blood test based on seizures, tingling sensations, fractures, constipation and abdominal pains. These are the known symptoms of calcium deficiency/toxicity.
One must opt for routine blood work that includes calcium testing once a year to safeguard themselves from diseases. If you are hypocalcemic, you should take appropriate medication. Upon reaching a stable calcium concentration in the blood, get monitored every three to six months.
Risk Assessment
Hyper/Hypoparathyroidism, Tetany, Osteomalacia in adults, Rickets in children
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the symptoms of calcium deficiency in adults?
Frequent bone pains/fractures, seizures, tetany, spasms, anxiety, depression, other psychiatric manifestations, irregular heartbeat and tingling sensation in extremities are common signs of calcium deficiency.
What does low calcium cause?
Low calcium levels can indicate an increased risk of fractures, rickets, osteomalacia and episodes of depression. It might lead to hypocalcemic tetany, a triad of convulsions, coma and laryngeal spasms. It is potentially a life-threatening disorder that can cause death in severe circumstances, i.e., when levels fall below 4mg/dL.
Does calcium help you sleep?
Yes, with the help of the amino acid tryptophan, calcium can help induce sleep by producing melatonin. The melatonin hormone helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle.
Can low calcium cause weight gain?
Previously, a calcium-deficient diet with increased calcium supplements was thought to prevent weight gain. A study published in 2004 discarded this hypothesis and proved that there are no clinically significant changes between the placebo and experimental groups.
Does calcium reduce belly fat?
Yes, it might be possible. Studies on calcium supplements and weight loss are still in process. Calcium intake increases heat production in the body and thereby boosts your metabolism. It can cause the body to burn abdominal and belly fat.
Do calcium pills make you gain weight?
Calcium supplements are not linked with any side effects of weight gain in individuals. A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine proved that experimental and placebo groups showed an equal amount of weight gain. It proved that calcium had no clinical effect on their weight gain process.
Does calcium make poop?
No, increased levels of calcium are associated with loss of appetite and constipation.
