Clinical Indications

Hypercalcaemia is often discovered incidentally. There are no specific clinical features. Any of the following may occur: abdominal pain, renal/ureteric colic (due to calculi), bone pain, thirst and polyuria. Hypocalcaemia can cause paraesthesiae, muscle cramps and spasm.

Part of Profile

Bone

Request Form

Combined Pathology Blood form (Yellow/Black)

Availability

On request. May be requested urgently.

Turnaround Time

Same day

Specimen

Serum

Volume

2 ml

Container

Yellow top (SST) tube

Collection

Stasis during venepuncture will falsely elevate results. Samples for further investigation of mild hypercalcaemia should be taken fasting.

Causes for Rejection

Unlabelled sample.

Reference Range

Calcium is corrected for albumin as follows:
'Corrected calcium' = measured calcium + 0.0175 x (43 - Albumin)
Corrected calcium reference range: Adult: 2.15 - 2.55. Information on age-related ranges.

Critical Difference

0.19 mmol/L at level of 2.4 mmol/L (8%)