About the test
This blood test tells you the level of calcium in your blood. It includes two measurements, one is a direct measure of calcium and the other is the "corrected calcium" which depends on the level of the protein albumin in the blood. The corrected calcium is a better reflection of the calcium that is free and available in the blood. In healthy people, the numbers are often very similar.
Calcium is a mineral that is found in dairy products, some green, leafy vegetables such as kale, and anything made with fortified flour. The body uses calcium to maintain the health of the bones and teeth, to help muscles contract, to ensure that nerve impulses are conducted properly, and to maintain the heart rhythm.
An adult needs about 700mg of calcium a day. Levels of calcium in your blood are primarily controlled by a hormone called parathyroid hormone that is produced by a gland in the neck. The kidneys are also involved in calcium metabolism and healthy calcium levels also rely on normal levels of magnesium and vitamin D.
This test will measure your calcium level as well as your albumin level and give you a useful calculation of corrected calcium as per:
Corrected Ca = [0.8 x (normal albumin - your albumin)] + Ca level
The normal albumin level is defaulted to 4 mg/dL Standard Units or 40 g/L if using SI Units.
3 Biomarkers
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CALCIUM AND ALBUMIN
- Calcium
- Albumin
- Corrected calcium -
UPGRADE
Need more biomarkers? Check out our Essential All Systems Blood Test