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Calcium - ionized

Updated: 9/27/2023
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Definition

Ionized calcium is calcium that is freely flowing in your blood and not attached to proteins. It is also called free calcium.

All cells need calcium in order to work. Calcium helps build strong bones and teeth. It is important for heart function, and helps with muscle contraction, nerve signaling, and blood clotting.

This article discusses the test used to measure the amount of ionized calcium in blood.

See also: Serum calcium

Alternative Names

Free calcium; Ionized calcium

How the test is performed

Blood is typically drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine (antiseptic). The health care provider wraps an elastic band around the upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the vein swell with blood.

Next, the health care provider gently inserts a needle into the vein. The blood collects into an airtight vial or tube attached to the needle. The elastic band is removed from your arm.

Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.

In infants or young children, a sharp tool called a lancet may be used to puncture the skin and make it bleed. The blood collects into a small glass tube called a pipette, or onto a slide or test strip. A bandage may be placed over the area if there is any bleeding.

How to prepare for the test

You should not eat or drink for at least 6 hours before the test. Your doctor may tell you to temporarily stop taking any drugs that can affect the test results. Calcium salts, hydralazine, lithium, thiazide diuretics, and thyroxine can increase your level of ionized calcium.

Never stop taking any medicine without first talking to your doctor.

Why the test is performed

Your doctor may order this test if you have signs of kidney or parathyroid disease. The test may also be done to monitor persons who have already been diagnosed with such diseases.

Usually, blood tests measure your total calcium level, which looks at both ionized calcium and calcium attached to proteins. You may need to have a separate ionized calcium test if you have factors that increase or decrease total calcium levels, such as abnormal blood levels albumin or immunoglobulins.

Normal Values

Normal values may vary slightly from laboratory to laboratory.

  • Children: 4.4 - 6.0 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
  • Adults: 4.4 - 5.3 mg/dL
What abnormal results mean

Greater-than-normal levels may be due to:

Lower-than-normal levels may be due to:

References

Fukagawa M, Kurokawa K, Papadakis MA. Fluid & electrolyte disorders. In: McPhee SJ, Papadakis MA, Tierney LM Jr. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2007. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2007.

Wysolmerski JJ, Insogna KL. The parathyroid glands, hypercalcemia, and hypocalcemia. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 266.

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13y ago
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Wiki User

12y ago
Definition

Ionized calcium is calcium that is freely flowing in your blood and not attached to proteins. It is also called free calcium.

All cells need calcium in order to work. Calcium helps build strong bones and teeth. It is important for heart function, and helps with muscle contraction, nerve signaling, and blood clotting.

This article discusses the test used to measure the amount of ionized calcium in blood.

See also: Serum calcium

Alternative Names

Free calcium; Ionized calcium

How the test is performed

A blood sample is needed. For information on how this is done, see: Venipuncture.

How to prepare for the test

You should not eat or drink for at least 6 hours before the test. Your doctor may tell you to temporarily stop taking any drugs that can affect the test results. Calcium salts, hydralazine, lithium, thiazide diuretics, and thyroxine can increase your level of ionized calcium.

Never stop taking any medicine without first talking to your doctor.

Why the test is performed

Your doctor may order this test if you have signs of kidney or parathyroid disease. The test may also be done to monitor persons who have already been diagnosed with such diseases.

Usually, blood tests measure your total calcium level, which looks at both ionized calcium and calcium attached to proteins. You may need to have a separate ionized calcium test if you have factors that increase or decrease total calcium levels, such as abnormal blood levels of albumin or immunoglobulins.

Normal Values
  • Children: 4.4 - 6.0 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
  • Adults: 4.4 - 5.3 mg/dL

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

The examples above show the common measurements for results for these tests. Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens.

What abnormal results mean

Higher-than-normal levels of ionized calcium may be due to:

Lower-than-normal levels may be due to:

References

Bringhurst FR, Demay MB, Kronenberg HM. Hormones and disorders of mineral metabolism. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 28.

Wysolmerski JJ, Insogna KL. The parathyroid glands, hypercalcemia, and hypocalcemia. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 266.

Reviewed By

Review Date: 06/01/2011

David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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Continue Learning about Chemistry

What is the chemical make up of ionized water?

Ionized water is a mixture of water and dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium. In order to become ionized, water is subjected to a process called electrolysis - a process that subjects water to electrical current. Ionized water molecules will have either excess protons or electrons as a result of the electrolysis. Water with excess protons will become alkaline in pH, water with excess electrons will become acidic.


What is the normal reading for calcium in the body?

The serum level of calcium is closely regulated with a normal total calcium of 2.2-2.6 mmol/L (9-10.5 mg/dL) and a normal ionized calcium of 1.1-1.4 mmol/L (4.5-5.6 mg/dL). The amount of total calcium varies with the level of serum albumin, a protein to which calcium is bound. The biologic effect of calcium is determined by the amount of ionized calcium, rather than the total calcium. Ionized calcium does not vary with the albumin level, and therefore it is useful to measure the ionized calcium level when the serum albumin is not within normal ranges, or when a calcium disorder is suspected despite a normal total calcium level.Corrected calcium levelOne can derive a corrected calcium level when the albumin is abnormal. This is to make up for the change in total calcium due to the change in albumin-bound calcium, and gives an estimate of what the calcium level would be if the albumin were within normal ranges.Corrected calcium (mg/dL) = measured total Ca (mg/dL) + 0.8 (4.0 - serum albumin [g/dL]), where 4.0 represents the average albumin level in g/dL. in other words, each 1 g/dL decrease of albumin will decrease 0.8 mg/dL in measured serum Ca and thus 0.8 must be added to the measured Calcium to get a corrected Calcium value.Or: Corrected calcium (mmol/L) = measured total Ca (mmol/L) + 0.02 (40 - serum albumin [g/L]), where 40 represents the average albumin level in g/Lin other words, each 1 g/L decrease of albumin, will decrease 0.02 mmol/L in measured serum Ca and thus 0.02 must be added to the measured value to take this into account and get a corrected calcium.When there is hypoalbuminemia (a lower than normal albumin), the corrected calcium level is higher than the total calcium.


What is the difference between ionized water and regular water?

Ionized water is water that has been treated using an ionizing device, which typically uses electrolysis to separate water molecules into positively charged ions (hydrogen) and negatively charged ions (hydroxide). This process is claimed to create water with a higher pH level and antioxidant properties. Regular water, on the other hand, refers to untreated water that has a neutral pH level of 7.


Are ionized molecules less reactive than non-ionized molecules?

yes


Are Ions charged atoms or groups of atoms?

Either one. You can have an ionized atom or an ionized molecule. Many ionized molecules are radicals that had been part of a larger molecule and the event that separated them also ionized the radical. This is what free radicalsare.

Related questions

What color tube is ionized calcium?

Ionized calcium is a green tube.


Is calcium written as Ca2 and ionized calcium as Ca?

No. elemental calcium is Ca. The calcium ion is Ca2+


How is the calcium ion represented?

When calcium is ionized it loses 2 electrons and forms Ca2-


What would happen if you tried to swallow a lump of the element calcium without the compound calcium?

Our GI tracts cannot absorb calcium unless it is ionized in a compound, such as calcium carbonate. A great source of calcium carbonate is crushed oyster shells.


What is a sst tube used for in lab draws?

Ionized calcium is one test that needs the sst tube.


How many valence electrons does calcium lose?

Calcium has 2 valence electrons and it typically loses these 2 electrons to achieve a stable configuration.


What is the chemical make up of ionized water?

Ionized water is a mixture of water and dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium. In order to become ionized, water is subjected to a process called electrolysis - a process that subjects water to electrical current. Ionized water molecules will have either excess protons or electrons as a result of the electrolysis. Water with excess protons will become alkaline in pH, water with excess electrons will become acidic.


What is an electrolyte disorder?

An electrolyte disorder is an imbalance of certain ionized salts (i.e., bicarbonate, calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphate, potassium, and sodium) in the blood


Is calcium silicate safe to ingest?

Calcium carbonate is the least useable form of calcium found in nature. Carbonate is such a bad chelator it cannot be considered as such, it is simply an anion. Chelated calcium is what the body needs. calcium orotate, calcium citrate, and the like. Ionized calcium is used by nanobacteria to build calcium plaque, so if you meet a person with atherosclerosis who wants to die sooner, give that person some coral calcium.


What is the normal reading for calcium in the body?

The serum level of calcium is closely regulated with a normal total calcium of 2.2-2.6 mmol/L (9-10.5 mg/dL) and a normal ionized calcium of 1.1-1.4 mmol/L (4.5-5.6 mg/dL). The amount of total calcium varies with the level of serum albumin, a protein to which calcium is bound. The biologic effect of calcium is determined by the amount of ionized calcium, rather than the total calcium. Ionized calcium does not vary with the albumin level, and therefore it is useful to measure the ionized calcium level when the serum albumin is not within normal ranges, or when a calcium disorder is suspected despite a normal total calcium level.Corrected calcium levelOne can derive a corrected calcium level when the albumin is abnormal. This is to make up for the change in total calcium due to the change in albumin-bound calcium, and gives an estimate of what the calcium level would be if the albumin were within normal ranges.Corrected calcium (mg/dL) = measured total Ca (mg/dL) + 0.8 (4.0 - serum albumin [g/dL]), where 4.0 represents the average albumin level in g/dL. in other words, each 1 g/dL decrease of albumin will decrease 0.8 mg/dL in measured serum Ca and thus 0.8 must be added to the measured Calcium to get a corrected Calcium value.Or: Corrected calcium (mmol/L) = measured total Ca (mmol/L) + 0.02 (40 - serum albumin [g/L]), where 40 represents the average albumin level in g/Lin other words, each 1 g/L decrease of albumin, will decrease 0.02 mmol/L in measured serum Ca and thus 0.02 must be added to the measured value to take this into account and get a corrected calcium.When there is hypoalbuminemia (a lower than normal albumin), the corrected calcium level is higher than the total calcium.


What is CPT code 80047?

CPT Code 80047Basic metabolic panel (Calcium, ionized)This panel must include the following:Calcium, ionized (82330)Carbon dioxide (82374)Chloride (82435)Creatinine (82565)Glucose (82947)Potassium (84132)Sodium (84295)Urea Nitrogen (BUN) (84520)


What is the ionized form of oxygen?

Oxide is the ionized form of oxygen