This test checks the active form of vitamin D in your body. It's mainly used to help figure out why someone has low calcium levels and to keep an eye on people with bone problems due to kidney disease or those with chronic kidney failure. However, it's not the right test for finding out if you're low on vitamin D or for tracking how well vitamin D supplements are working. For those needs, the 25-hydroxyvitamin D test is recommended.
What patients is this test right for?
This test is particularly useful for individuals experiencing symptoms of low calcium or those being treated for renal osteodystrophy or chronic renal failure.