Serum calcium

Alternative names:

Ca++; Ca+2; calcium - serum

Normal values:

8.5 to 10.9 mg/dl

Note: mg/dl = milligrams per deciliter

What abnormal results mean:

Greater-than-normal levels may indicate:

• hyperparathyroidism
• metastatic bone tumor
• milk-alkali syndrome
• multiple myeloma
• Paget's disease
• sarcoidosis
• tumors producing a PTH-like substance
• vitamin D intoxication

Lower than normal levels may indicate:

• hypoparathyroidism
• malabsorption (inadequate absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract)
• osteomalacia
• pancreatitis
• renal failure
• 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