Calciumspecmcnc
A blood test that measures the amount of calcium in your blood to evaluate bone health, nerve function, and heart health.
{"Measures calcium levels in your blood serum","Helps diagnose bone diseases, nerve problems, and heart conditions","Involves a simple blood draw from a vein in your arm","Results are usually available within a day","Abnormal results may require additional testing"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 38250-7
- Short code
- CA
- Synonyms
- Calcium Spec-mCnc
- Category
- electrolyte
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Serum separator tube (SST/gold top) or plain red top tube
- Units
- not specified
- Ref low
- 8.5
- Ref high
- 10.5
- Critical range
- 6 not specified – 13 not specified
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- ≥ 0 years
- Method
- Colorimetric (Arsenazo III) or Spectrophotometry
- CPT
- 82310
- SNOMED
- 271710006
- Specimen volume
- 1.0-2.0 mL serum minimum
- Stability
- Room temperature: 7 days; Refrigerated (2-8°C): 14 days; Frozen (-20°C): 30 days
- Hemolysis max
- 50
- Lipemia max
- 300
- Icterus max
- 20
- TAT
- 1–24 hours
- Order
- routine
What is this test?
A blood calcium test, also called a serum calcium test, measures the amount of calcium in the liquid part of your blood (serum). Calcium is a vital mineral that plays a crucial role in building strong bones and teeth, helping muscles contract, enabling nerves to transmit signals, and supporting heart function.
Why is this test performed?
Your healthcare provider may order a calcium blood test to: check overall health as part of a routine metabolic panel, diagnose or monitor conditions affecting bones (such as osteoporosis), evaluate parathyroid gland function, investigate symptoms like muscle cramps, weakness, or numbness, or assess heart and nerve health. It is also used to monitor patients taking certain medications that affect calcium levels.
How is the test performed?
A healthcare professional will draw a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm using a needle. The procedure takes only a few minutes. You do not need to fast for this test unless your doctor specifically instructs you to do so. The blood sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis.
Understanding your results
Normal blood calcium levels typically range from about 8.5 to 10.5 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), though reference ranges may vary slightly between laboratories. High calcium levels (hypercalcemia) may indicate hyperparathyroidism, certain cancers, vitamin D excess, or use of specific medications. Low calcium levels (hypocalcemia) may be caused by low parathyroid hormone, vitamin D deficiency, kidney disease, or malnutrition. Your doctor will interpret your results based on your overall health and other test findings.
Reference range
8.5-10.5 mg/dLnot specified
No fasting or special preparation required
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
◆Associated findings1
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fast before the test?
What happens if my calcium level is too high or too low?
Can medications affect my calcium test results?
Is the blood draw painful?
How often should I have my calcium checked?
Sources
- 1
- 2
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 10, 2026. · Read our editorial policy