Calcium Test

This test measures the total amount of calcium circulating in your blood, an essential mineral involved in building strong bones and teeth, but also playing critical roles in muscle contraction, nerve signaling, blood clotting, and heart function.

Your body maintains blood calcium levels within a remarkably tight range through a tightly regulated system involving the parathyroid glands, vitamin D, and the kidneys, so even small deviations often point to a problem with one of these regulatory systems rather than simple dietary calcium intake.

Because so many organ systems depend on stable calcium levels, both abnormally high and abnormally low calcium can cause a wide range of symptoms, from muscle cramps and numbness to confusion and heart rhythm disturbances in severe cases.

This test is often ordered alongside vitamin D, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone levels for a complete picture of calcium metabolism.