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Calcium
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Common Questions
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1. Should I be concerned if my doctor only orders a regular calcium and not free or ionized calcium?
2. What foods are high in calcium?
3. If I consume foods fortified with calcium, would it change my laboratory results?
4. Can I perform this test at home?
1. Should I be concerned if my doctor only orders a regular calcium and not free or ionized calcium?
No. Measuring total calcium is usually sufficient for screening purposes. The total calcium test is more easily performed than the ionized calcium test since it requires no special handling of the blood sample. The ionized calcium test, on the other hand, requires specialized handling and expedited delivery of the blood sample to the lab for prompt analysis. The necessary handling and delivery is difficult to achieve outside of a hospital setting. In most cases, total calcium is a good substitute for free calcium since the free and bound forms are usually each about half of the total. The direct measurement of ionized calcium is particularly important during surgery as well in severely ill patients, when changes in total calcium do not reliably tell how abnormal the ionized calcium level is.
2. What foods are high in calcium?
Dairy products are the main source of calcium, but lesser amounts are found in eggs, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, legumes, nuts, and whole grains. Many fruit juices are now fortified with calcium.
3. If I consume foods fortified with calcium, would it change my laboratory results?
In general, consuming fortified foods will not directly affect your calcium test results. Talk to your doctor about your calcium requirements. He can help you determine whether you should be taking calcium and/or vitamin supplements.
4. Can I perform this test at home?
No. While there are hand-held instruments available, these are intended for use in a hospital or medical office setting and must be operated by trained personnel.
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This article was last reviewed on
September 16, 2007.
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