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Serum calcium - Results

Alternative Names

Ca+2; Calcium - blood; Ca++

Normal Values:

Normal values range from 8.5 to 10.2 mg/dL.

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

What abnormal results mean:

Higher-than-normal levels may be due to:

Addison's disease
Excessive vitamin D level
Excessive calcium intake
HIV/AIDS
Hyperparathyroidism
Metastatic bone tumor
Milk-alkali syndrome
Multiple myeloma
Overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
Paget's disease
Prolonged immobilization
Sarcoidosis
Tumors producing a parathyroid hormone-like substance
Use of certain medications

Lower-than-normal levels may be due to:

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

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

Reviewed last on: 10/30/2007
David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Goldman L, Ausiello D. Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007.

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