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HelpTest Code LAB53 Calcium
Useful For
The diagnosis and monitoring of a wide range of disorders including diseases of bone, kidney, parathyroid gland, or gastrointestinal tract. Calcium levels may also reflect abnormal vitamin D, PTH, or calcitonin levels.
Methodology
Photometric, 5-nitro-5'-methyl-BAPTA
Performing Laboratory
Bozeman Health Laboratory Services
Specimen Requirements
Specimen Type: Plasma or serum
Container/Tube: Light-green top (lithium heparin gel), red top, or gold top
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
Specimen Minimum Volume: 0.5 mL
Collection Instructions: Allow specimen to clot completely. Spin down and separate cells from serum or plasma within 2 hours of collection. Prolonged contact with the clot may cause lower calcium values.
Specimen Transport Temperature
Ambient/Refrigerated
Specimen Stability
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Plasma or Serum | Ambient | 7 days |
| Refrigerated | 3 weeks | |
| Frozen | 8 months |
Reference Values
8.9-10.3 mg/dL
Critical values (automatic call-back): <6.0 mg/dL or >12.0 mg/dL
Note: If the patients albumin concentration is low or high, a corrected calcium level will be reported. Calcium in serum is bound to proteins, principally albumin. As a result, the total serum calcium concentration in patients with low or high serum albumin levels may not accurately reflect the physiologically important ionized (or free) calcium concentration. It is important to verify with repeat measurement (ionized calcium or total serum calcium corrected for albumin) that there is a true decrease in the serum calcium concentration. If the patient has a low albumin-corrected serum calcium or ionized calcium concentration, further evaluation to identify the cause is indicated.
Day(s) Test Set Up
Monday through Sunday
Test Classification and CPT Coding
82310