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| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # |
Magnesium
Test CodeMG
Alias/See Also
Mg
Preferred Specimen
1.0 mL plasma (0.5 mL minimum)
Transport Container
PST (light green top). Red top and SST also acceptable
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 7 days, Refrigerated: 7 days, Frozen: 1 year
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Grossly hemolyzed specimens are unacceptable.
Reference Range
| Age | Female | Male |
| Adult (>18 years): | 1.8 – 2.4 mg/dL | 1.8 – 2.4 mg/dL |
| Pediatric: | ||
| 0– 90 days | 1.5-2.1 | 1.5-2.2 |
| 3 – 12 months | 1.6-2.2 | 1.6-2.5 |
| 13 months – 3 years | 1.5-2.2 | 1.6-2.2 |
| 4 – 10 years | 1.6-2.5 | 1.5-2.2 |
| 11 – 17 years | 1.6-2.1 | 1.4-2.1 |
| 18 years | 1.5-1.9 | 1.6-2.1 |
Clinical Significance
Magnesium is involved in many enzymatic reactions of metabolism as an activating ion. Decreased levels of magnesium lead to muscle irritability, and possibly tetany, if not corrected. Elevated levels reduce muscle and nerve irritability, and at extremely high levels result in an anesthetic effect that could ultimately cause cardiac arrest. Magnesium may be increased in patients with kidney failure. Some conditions in which magnesium may be decreased include: 1) prolonged intravenous feeding, 2) chronic alcohol intoxication and alcoholic cirrhosis, 3) primary hyperaldosteronism 4) malabsorption syndromes 5) diabetic coma, and 6) hyperparathyroidism.
