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Calcium, Total
Test CodeCA
Alias/See Also
Total Calcium
CPT Codes
82310
Preferred Specimen
1.0 mL plasma collected in a PST (LiHeparin tube)
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Plasma- Sodium Heparin
Plasma- EDTA (Lavender)
Serum- Red Top
Serum- SST
or Tiger Top
Random urine (Sterile Cup, B-D urine foley and B-D speimen cup collection kit.
Plasma- EDTA (Lavender)
Serum- Red Top
Serum- SST
or Tiger Top
Random urine (Sterile Cup, B-D urine foley and B-D speimen cup collection kit.
Instructions
Serum or plasma should be separated from blood cells as soon as possible, because prolonged contact with the clot may cause lower calcium values.
Transport Temperature
Room temperature
Specimen Stability
Room Temperature: Plasma \Serum 7 days at 15-25°C
Refrigerated: Plasma\Serum 3 weeks at 2-8°C
Frozen: Plasma\Serum 8 months at -20°C
Refrigerated: Plasma\Serum 3 weeks at 2-8°C
Frozen: Plasma\Serum 8 months at -20°C
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Samples not labeled with complete first and last name of patient and date of birth.
Grossly Hemolyzed, Lipemic and Icteric.
Grossly Hemolyzed, Lipemic and Icteric.
Methodology
Photometric
Setup Schedule
Sun - Sat
Report Available
Same Day
Reference Range
Plasma/Serum
7.6 – 10.4 mg/dL Age 0 days to 1 month old
8.6 – 10.2 mg/dL Age 1 month old to adult
Random Urine No established values
Critical Values
Plasma or Serum
<7.5 or >11.9 mg/dl 0 days old to 1 month old
<6.0 or >14.0 mg/dL 1 month old to adult
7.6 – 10.4 mg/dL Age 0 days to 1 month old
8.6 – 10.2 mg/dL Age 1 month old to adult
Random Urine No established values
Critical Values
Plasma or Serum
<7.5 or >11.9 mg/dl 0 days old to 1 month old
<6.0 or >14.0 mg/dL 1 month old to adult
Clinical Significance
Calcium is the most abundant mineral element in the body with about 99 percent in the bones primarily as hydroxyapatite. The remaining calcium is distributed between the various tissues and the extracellular fluids where it performs a vital role for many life sustaining processes. Among the extra skeletal functions of calcium are involvement in blood coagulation, neuromuscular conduction, excitability of skeletal and cardiac muscle, enzyme activation, and the preservation of cell membrane integrity and permeability.
Serum calcium levels and hence the body content are controlled by parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin, and vitamin D. An imbalance in any of these modulators leads to alterations of the body and serum calcium levels. Increases in serum PTH or vitamin D are usually associated with hypercalcemia. Increased serum calcium levels may also be observed in multiple myeloma and other neoplastic diseases. Hypocalcemia may be observed e.g. in hypoparathyroidism, nephrosis, and pancreatitis.
Serum calcium levels and hence the body content are controlled by parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin, and vitamin D. An imbalance in any of these modulators leads to alterations of the body and serum calcium levels. Increases in serum PTH or vitamin D are usually associated with hypercalcemia. Increased serum calcium levels may also be observed in multiple myeloma and other neoplastic diseases. Hypocalcemia may be observed e.g. in hypoparathyroidism, nephrosis, and pancreatitis.
Performing Laboratory
Frederick Health Laboratory
400 W 7th Street
Frederick, MD 21701
Last Updated: November 28, 2023
