Serum phosphorus

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Blood test

Overview

Risks

Results

Serum phosphorus

Alternative Names:

Phosphorus - serum; HPO4^-2, PO4^-3; Inorganic phosphate

What the risks are:

Excessive bleeding
Fainting or feeling lightheaded
Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
Multiple punctures to locate veins

Special considerations:

Antacids can bind PO4 and decrease absorption.

Nonpharmacological factors that can affect PO4 measurements include: enemas containing sodium phosphate, excess vitamin D supplements, and intravenous glucose administration (because PO4 enters cells along with glucose).

Drugs that can increase PO4 measurements include: laxatives containing Na2HPO4 (sodium phosphate), methicillin, and excess vitamin D or 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D.

Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.

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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