Book Serum Calcium Test

One of the most vital minerals in your body is calcium. Calcium is present in the teeth and bone. About 99% of the body’s calcium is in the skeleton. The remaining 1% circulates in the bloodstream. Calcium is required for healthy neuron, muscle, and cardiac function. Calcium levels in the blood that is too high or too low may indicate bone disease, thyroid illness, renal disease, or other medical issues.

The amount of calcium in your blood is measured by a serum calcium test. This test determines the amounts of bound and unbound calcium in the blood. Calcium that is bound to other anions and proteins such as albumin is known as bound calcium. Calcium that is not attached to proteins and is freely flowing in the blood is known as unbound calcium. Ionized calcium, or free calcium, is another name for unbound calcium

The amount of calcium in your bones cannot be determined by a calcium blood test. A bone density test, a form of X-ray, can be used by your healthcare professional to assess your bone health (DEXA scan).

Serum Calcium Test is also known as Total Calcium Test. Total calcium is frequently included in a regular screening test known as a basic metabolic panel.

As part of your routine visit or if you have symptoms of elevated calcium levels, your doctor may have prescribed a calcium blood test.

High calcium levels might cause the following symptoms:

• Vomiting and nausea
• Urination is becoming more frequent
• Thirstiness Increased Constipation
• Pain in the abdomen
• Appetite loss

Low calcium levels can cause the following symptoms:

• Lips, tongue, fingers, and feet tingling
• Cramps in the muscles
• Spasms of the muscles
• Heartbeat irregularity

Many persons with high or low calcium levels are asymptomatic. If you have a pre-existing ailment that may alter your calcium levels, your doctor may recommend a calcium test. These are some examples:

• Diabetic kidney disease
• Thyroid disorder
• Malnutrition
• Cancers of specific types

A Serum Calcium test is performed to evaluate the following:

• To keep track of severely unwell patients.
• To track the progression of the ailment and the success of treatment following a kidney transplant, as well as in some types of cancer.
• Calcium levels should be monitored during and after large-volume blood transfusions.

During a blood test, or blood draw, you can likely go through the following:

• A healthcare provider will use a tourniquet to evaluate your arms for an easily accessible vein while you sit in a chair.
• They’ll sterilize and sanitize the region once they’ve found a vein.
• A tiny needle will be inserted into your vein to take a blood sample. This may feel like a little annoyance.
• A tiny amount of blood will gather in a test tube after they inject the needle.
• They’ll withdraw the needle once they’ve collected enough blood to test and apply a cotton ball or gauze to the wound to stop the bleeding.

The test is entirely risk-free. However, because this test requires a needle prick to get a blood sample, hematoma (blood collection under the skin), or bruising at the site of needle prick may occur in very rare cases.

Reference Range:  8.5 to 10.5 mg/dl (2.2 to 2.7 m mol/L approx.)