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.

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 may be due to:

• Addison's disease
• Excessive vitamin D level
• Excessive calcium intake (also called milk-alkali syndrome)
• HIV/AIDS
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Infections that cause granulomas such as tuberculosis and certain fungal and mycobacterial infections
• Metastatic bone tumor
• Milk-alkali syndrome
• Multiple myeloma
• Overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) or too much thyroid hormone replacement medication
• Paget's disease
• Prolonged immobilization
• Sarcoidosis
• Tumors producing a parathyroid hormone-like substance
• Use of certain medications such as lithium, tamoxifen, and thiazides

Lower than normal levels may be due to:

• Hypoparathyroidism
• Kidney failure
• Liver disease (decreased albumin production)
• Magnesium deficiency
• Malabsorption (inadequate absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract)
• Osteomalacia
• Pancreatitis
• Rickets
• Vitamin D deficiency

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

• Delirium
• Dementia
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) II
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) I
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Secondary hyperparathyroidism