Calcium is one of the most important minerals in the body, and most of the calcium is stored in the bones, and your body needs calcium to maintain healthy bones and teeth, and it is also necessary to keep your nerves, heart, and muscles working properly. Narrow band, a total blood calcium test is used to measure the total amount of calcium in your blood.
According to a report by the site healthline The second blood calcium test, called the ionized calcium blood test, measures the amount of “free” calcium in your blood. “Free calcium” refers to calcium that is not bound to any proteins and not with anion in your blood. In addition to these two blood tests, the level of calcium in your urine can be measured. also.
Uses and purpose of the test
Your doctor will usually order a total blood test for calcium as part of a routine metabolic panel. During a general physical exam, if you have symptoms of high or low calcium levels, your doctor may order a blood test for calcium..
Your doctor may also order a blood test for calcium if they suspect you have kidney disease, parathyroid disease, cancer, or poor nutrition..
Prepare for the test
Your doctor may ask you to fast or stop taking certain medications or supplements before the test, and be careful that eating a large amount of foods or drinks that contain calcium can increase calcium levels in the blood and affect the results of the test..
Test results
In general, the normal reference range for a total blood calcium test in adults is between 8.6 and 10.2 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
What can high level mean?
Test result values that are above the reference range are considered to have a higher than normal blood calcium level called hypercalcemia.
What could a low level mean?
When test result values are below the reference range, it is considered low. A low blood calcium level is called hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia usually occurs when too much calcium is lost through urine or when not enough calcium is transferred from your bones into your blood..