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Magnesium
Test CodeMG
Alias/See Also
Epic: LAB103
Mg
Mg
Preferred Specimen
Specimen Type: Serum
Collection Container: Serum gel
Specimen Volume: 3.5 mL
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Specimen Type: Plasma
Collection Container: Green top (Lithium heparin)
Instructions
Centrifuge and separate cells after clot formation and within 4 hours of collection.
Transport Container
Plastic vial
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 7 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 1 year
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Unlabeled, mislabeled, wrong tube type, QNS, hemolysis.
Methodology
Enzymatic
Setup Schedule
Daily
Report Available
Same day
Reference Range
0 - 18 years: 1.3 - 2.2 mg/dL
18 - 150 years: 1.6 - 2.6mg/dL
18 - 150 years: 1.6 - 2.6mg/dL
Clinical Significance
Magnesium is an essential nutrient which is involved in many biochemical functions. It has a structural role in nucleic acids and ribosomal particles, required as an activator for many enzymes and has a role in energy producing oxidative phosphorylation.
The normal body contains between 21 – 28 grams magnesium, more than 50% of which is complexed with Ca++ and phosphate in bone. Only approximately 1% of the total magnesium is found in the extracellular fluid; hence, it tends to enter and leave cells under the same conditions as K+. Approximately 35% of plasma Mg++ is protein-bound, mainly to albumin, and therefore changes in albumin concentration may affect Mg++.
Hypomagnesemia results in the impairment of neuromuscular function and may develop in severe prolonged diarrhea, malabsorption syndromes, hyperaldosteronism, and diuretic therapy.
Hypermagnesemia is seen in renal glomerular failure and diabetic coma.
The normal body contains between 21 – 28 grams magnesium, more than 50% of which is complexed with Ca++ and phosphate in bone. Only approximately 1% of the total magnesium is found in the extracellular fluid; hence, it tends to enter and leave cells under the same conditions as K+. Approximately 35% of plasma Mg++ is protein-bound, mainly to albumin, and therefore changes in albumin concentration may affect Mg++.
Hypomagnesemia results in the impairment of neuromuscular function and may develop in severe prolonged diarrhea, malabsorption syndromes, hyperaldosteronism, and diuretic therapy.
Hypermagnesemia is seen in renal glomerular failure and diabetic coma.
Performing Laboratory
Inova Laboratories
2832 Juniper Street
Fairfax, VA 22031
Last Updated: February 21, 2023
Last Review: N. Wolford, February 21, 2023