Calcium, 24-Hour Urine without Creatinine

Test Code
11313


CPT Codes
82340

Includes
CPT code 81050 may be added at an additional charge for volume measurement


Preferred Specimen
10 mL aliquot of a well-mixed, 24-hour collection


Minimum Volume
2 mL


Other Acceptable Specimens
Unpreserved urine • Urinalysis transport tube (yellow-top, blue fill line, preservative tube)


Instructions
Refrigerate during and after collection. Collect urine with 25 mL of 6N HCl to maintain a pH <3. Do not include first morning specimen; collect all subsequent voidings. The last specimen collected should be the first morning specimen voided the following morning at the same time as the previous morning's first voiding.
Specify 24-hour total volume and collection duration on specimen container and test requisition.


Transport Container
Plastic urine container


Transport Temperature
Room temperature


Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 5 days
Refrigerated: 35 days
Frozen: 6 months


Methodology
Spectrophotometry (SP)

Setup Schedule
10: 00 a. M. Mon-sat


Report Available
1-2 days


Limitations
Oral contraceptive use may depress results.


Reference Range
Calcium, 24-Hour Urine
  Male55-300 mg/24 h
  Female35-250 mg/24 h
Low Calcium Diet
  Male55-200 mg/24 h
  Female35-200 mg/24 h


Clinical Significance

This quantitative test, performed with a 24-hour urine specimen, may help screen for hypercalciuria, one of the established risk factors for kidney stone formation [1-3]. This test may also help assess metabolic disorders of calcium metabolism, such as hyperparathyroidism, bone disease, and idiopathic hypercalciuria. In general, 24-hour urine specimens are preferred to random urine specimens when measuring calcium for diagnostic evaluation of hypercalciuria [1].

Calcium is essential for bone formation and nerve, muscle, and heart functions. Calcium metabolism is jointly regulated by parathyroid hormone and vitamin D metabolites. Urinary calcium excretion is the major route of calcium elimination and reflects kidney tubular filtration and reabsorption of calcium in addition to dietary intake, intestinal absorption, and bone resorption [2].

Urinary calcium levels may be elevated in patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria, chronic kidney disease, hyperparathyroidism, vitamin D intoxication, Paget disease of bone, sarcoidosis, or conditions that infiltrate and destroy bones (eg, multiple myeloma and a variety of metastatic cancers) [2,3]. Urinary calcium levels may be decreased in patients with hypoparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency rickets, osteomalacia, or familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia [2,3].

Note that use of calcium supplements and loop diuretics may cause increased urinary calcium levels; thiazide diuretics may cause decreased urinary calcium levels [3].

This test is also available with creatinine (Calcium, 24-Hour Urine with Creatinine). Because daily urine excretion of creatinine generally shows minimal fluctuation, creatinine excretion is useful in determining whether 24-hour urine specimens for calcium have been completely and accurately collected [2].

The results of this test should be interpreted in the context of pertinent clinical and family history and physical examination findings.

References
1. Williams JC Jr, et al. Urolithiasis. 2021;49(1):1-16.
2. Rifai N, et al. eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. Elservier Inc; 2022
3. MedlinePlus [Internet]. Calcium-urine. Accessed September 1, 2022. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003603.htm



Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
27027 Tourney Road
Valencia, CA 91355-5386




The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.