Calcium
A blood test used to check your general health and to help diagnose or monitor conditions affecting bones, kidneys, the digestive system, the thyroid and the parathyroid glands.
Calcium
A blood test used to check your general health and to help diagnose or monitor conditions affecting bones, kidneys, the digestive system, the thyroid and the parathyroid glands.
Also known as
What it measures
- Total calcium, or the calcium that is not attached to proteins
Why a doctor may order it
May be part of a routine panel or ordered to look into conditions that affect calcium.
What it helps evaluate
It can help a doctor check calcium balance in the body.
Preparation
You usually don't need special preparation, but some medicines and supplements, such as vitamin D, can affect results — tell your provider about everything you take.
Fasting
Usually no fasting for the test itself. If other tests are ordered on the same sample, you may need to fast.
Important considerations
- Don't stop supplements or medicines unless your doctor tells you to.
Discuss results with your doctor
Talk to a doctor about your symptoms and about what your results mean — a single result is not a diagnosis. See a doctor promptly for severe or worsening symptoms.