Calcium, Ionized details
Description
Ionized calcium measures the portion of your blood calcium that's 'free' and unbound to proteins like albumin — this is the biologically active form that your body actually uses for muscle function, nerve signaling, and blood clotting, making it a more precise reflection of your true calcium status than total calcium, especially when albumin levels are abnormal. It's particularly useful in critically ill patients, those with significant protein abnormalities, or when a total calcium result doesn't seem to match the clinical picture. Like total calcium, high or low ionized calcium can relate to parathyroid gland problems, vitamin D status, kidney function, or magnesium levels, and abnormal results are generally followed up with these related tests.
Optimal & Reference range
Calcium, Ionized
mg/dL- Low
- Optimal
- Above optimal
- High
- Optimal range
- 4.7 - 5.1
- Reference range
- 4.7 - 5.5
- Out of range
- <4.7 or >5.5
Interpretation
- Low: Your result is below the reference range. Discuss it with your healthcare provider, who can interpret it alongside your symptoms and other results.
- Optimal: Your result is within the optimal range.
- Above optimal: Your result is within the reference range, but above the range we consider optimal.
- High: Your result is above the reference range. Discuss it with your healthcare provider, who can interpret it alongside your symptoms and other results.
- These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Blood tests with Calcium, Ionized
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Single marker
Calcium, Ionized
$18.49
Calcium, Ionized measures the active, free form of calcium in the blood that is not bound to proteins. It is the physiologically important form of calcium and is crucial for functions like muscle contraction, nerve signaling, and blood clotting. This test is useful when total calcium levels are abnormal or when protein levels (like albumin) may affect total calcium measurements.
- Calcium, Ionized Measures the active, unbound form of calcium in your blood — considered a more precise reflection of calcium available to your body's cells than total calcium.