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Test Code CA Calcium

Additional Codes

Cerner

NextGen

Calcium Level

Calcium Level

CA

 

Useful For

Calcium is the major mineral component of bone; 99% of the body’s calcium is in bone. Calcium ions play an important role in the transmission of nerve impulses and in maintaining normal muscle contraction. Abnormal concentrations of serum calcium may indicate malfunction of the parathyroid glands, bone diseases, carcinoma, malnutrition and malabsorption syndrome, vitamin D deficiency, overdose with calcium-containing antacids, and renal diseases.

Methodology

Colorimetric (reflectance spectrophotometry), Arsenazo III Dye

Patient Preparation

None

Collection Instructions

Standard phlebotomy practices.

Specimen Requirements

Container

Specimen Type

Tube

Lithium Heparin Plasma

PST

 or  or 

Serum

 or 

SST

 or  or 

 

Stability

Storage

Temperature

Stability

Room Temperature

18-28°C

≤ 4 hours

Refrigerated

 2-8°C

≤ 22 days

If separated within 2 days

Frozen

≤-18 °C

≤ 1 year

If separated within 2 days

Rejection Criteria

Gross Hemolysis

Result Reporting and Reference Values

Reported in mg/dL.

Age

Low

High

Critical Low

Critical High

0- 7 days

7.5

11.0

6.0

12.0

7 days – 18 years

8.7

10.7

6.0

12.0

18 – 150 years

8.4

10.2

6.0

12.0

Reflex Testing

None

Limitations

  • Ortho reports no significant effect with the following: 
    • Lipemia up to 800 mg/dL
    • Hemoglobin up to 550 mg/dL
    • Bilirubin up to 40 mg/dL
  • The following interpretive data is visible to the practitioner:
    • Hypaque invalidates calcium results.
    • Suramin causes a negative bias of 10%.