Serum calcium

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Risks

Results

Serum calcium

Alternative Names:

Ca+2; Calcium - serum; Ca++

Normal Values:

Normal values range from 8.5 to 10.2 mg/dL. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.

What abnormal results mean:

Abnormal results indicate the following:

Higher-than-normal levels may indicate:

Hyperparathyroidism
Metastatic bone tumor
Milk-alkali syndrome
Multiple myeloma
Paget's disease
Sarcoidosis
Tumors producing a PTH-like substance
Vitamin D intoxication
Excessive calcium intake
Prolonged immobilization
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland)
Addison's disease (underactive adrenal gland)
Thiazide diuretics
Lithium
HIV/AIDS

Lower-than-normal levels may indicate:

Hypoparathyroidism
Malabsorption (inadequate absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract)
Osteomalacia
Pancreatitis
Renal failure
Rickets and vitamin D deficiency
Liver disease (decreased albumin production)
Low serum magnesium

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

Review Date: 3/13/2006
Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, M.D., Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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