Calcium, Spot Urine

Serum calcium test is done to screen, diagnose and monitor conditions that are related to bones, kidneys, teeth, heart, and nerves. The test is also done if there are symptoms of a parathyroid disorder, malabsorption, or hyperactive thyroid. An abnormal total calcium level needs additional tests such as ionized calcium, urine calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH-related peptide to diagnose the underlying disorder as PTH and vitamin D are responsible for maintaining normal calcium levels in the blood. Serum calcium and PTH together can help to determine if the parathyroid glands are functioning normally. Urine calcium levels help to determine if the kidneys are excreting the proper amount of calcium. Serum calcium can be used as a diagnostic test in Kidney stones, Bone disease, and Neurologic disorders. The total calcium test is the reflection of the amount of free calcium present in the blood since there is a stable balance between free and bound calcium. However, ionized calcium is measured when the balance between bound and free calcium is disturbed (critically ill patients, blood transfusions or intravenous fluids, major surgery, and low Albumin). Abnormal ionized calcium levels can cause the increase or decrease of heart rate, cause muscle spasm (tetany), and confusion or even coma.