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Ionized Calcium Test
An ionized calcium (iCa) test measures the amount of calcium in your blood that is free and biologically active. It is different from total calcium, which includes calcium attached to proteins such as albumin.
Typical reference range
For adults, ionized calcium is commonly around 1.12–1.32 mmol/L (4.5–5.3 mg/dL), but the exact range varies by laboratory, age, and testing method.
Why is it done?
Doctors may order it to evaluate:
Symptoms of low calcium: tingling, muscle cramps, spasms, or abnormal heart rhythms
Symptoms of high calcium: weakness, nausea, excessive thirst/urination, confusion
Parathyroid disorders
Kidney disease
Critically ill patients
Abnormal total calcium results when albumin or blood protein levels may affect the interpretation
Important testing point
Ionized calcium can be affected by blood pH and by how the sample is collected and handled. The result should therefore be interpreted using the reference range printed on your laboratory report.
If you have your ionized calcium result, unit, reference range, and (if available) pH/total calcium, send them to me and I can explain what the result generally means.in nidan pathology laboratory @location
