Calcium CPT: 82310
Expected Turnaround Time
Within 1 day
Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.
Specimen Requirements
Specimen
Serum
Volume
1 mL
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Container
Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top (lithium heparin) tube; do not use oxalate, EDTA, or citrate plasma.
Collection
Separate serum or plasma from cells within 45 minutes of collection.
Storage Instructions
Room temperature
Stability Requirements
Patient Preparation
Morning, fasting sample is desirable, since some diurnal variation exists (which may reflect postural changes).
Patient Information
To screen for, diagnose, and monitor a range of medical conditions.
As part of a routine metabolic panel; when you have symptoms of a disorder, or known presence of one, affecting your kidneys, bones, thyroid, parathyroid, or nerves or when symptoms of significantly increased or decreased calcium concentrations are present; when someone is critically ill, to monitor ionized calcium levels; when someone has certain types of cancer; when someone is being treated for abnormal calcium levels, to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.
A blood sample is taken by needle from a vein in the arm. If a urine collection is required, a 24-hour urine sample or a timed collection of a shorter duration is obtained. Sometimes a random urine collection may be used, although a timed collection is preferred.
Current practices do not require fasting. You may be instructed to stop taking certain medications, such as lithium, antacids, diuretics, and vitamin D supplements, among others, to ensure the most accurate test results.