What’s a calcium blood take a look at?
A calcium blood take a look at measures the quantity of calcium in your blood. Calcium is likely one of the most essential minerals in your physique. You want calcium for wholesome bones and tooth. Calcium can be important for correct functioning of your nerves, muscle groups, and coronary heart. About 99% of your physique’s calcium is saved in your bones. The remaining 1% circulates within the blood. If there may be an excessive amount of or too little calcium within the blood, it might be an indication of bone illness, thyroid illness, kidney illness, or different medical circumstances.
Different names: complete calcium, ionized calcium
What’s it used for?
There are two kinds of calcium blood exams:
Whole calcium is usually a part of a routine screening take a look at known as a primary metabolic panel. A primary metabolic panel is a take a look at that measures completely different minerals and different substances within the blood, together with calcium.
Why do I want a calcium blood take a look at?
Your well being care supplier could have ordered a primary metabolic panel, which features a calcium blood take a look at, as a part of your common checkup, or in case you have signs of irregular calcium ranges.
Signs of excessive calcium ranges embrace:
Signs of low calcium ranges embrace:
Many individuals with excessive or low calcium ranges should not have any signs. Your well being care supplier could order a calcium take a look at in case you have a pre-existing situation which will have an effect on your calcium ranges. These embrace:
What occurs throughout a calcium blood take a look at?
A well being care skilled will take a blood pattern from a vein in your arm, utilizing a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small quantity of blood will probably be collected right into a take a look at tube or vial. You could really feel a little bit sting when the needle goes in or out. This often takes lower than 5 minutes.
Will I must do something to organize for the take a look at? – “calcium lab values”
You do not want any particular preparations for a calcium blood take a look at or a primary metabolic panel. In case your well being care supplier has ordered extra exams in your blood pattern, chances are you’ll must quick (not eat or drink) for a number of hours earlier than the take a look at. Your well being care supplier will let you already know if there are any particular directions to observe.
Are there any dangers to the take a look at?
There may be little or no danger to having a blood take a look at. You could have slight ache or bruising on the spot the place the needle was put in, however most signs go away rapidly.
What do the outcomes imply?
In case your outcomes present larger than regular calcium ranges, it might point out:
In case your outcomes present decrease than regular calcium ranges, it might point out:
In case your calcium take a look at outcomes usually are not within the regular vary, it does not essentially imply that you’ve got a medical situation needing remedy. Different components, corresponding to eating regimen and sure medicines, can have an effect on your calcium ranges. In case you have questions on your outcomes, discuss to your well being care supplier.
Study extra about laboratory exams, reference ranges, and understanding outcomes.