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Calcium (Ca) in Urine

(continued)

How It Is Done

Urine calcium is measured in a sample taken from all the urine made in a 24-hour period.

Urine test

You start collecting your urine in the morning. When you first get up, empty your bladder but do not save this urine. Write down the time that you urinated to mark the beginning of your 24-hour collection period.
For the next 24 hours, collect all your urine. Your doctor or lab will usually provide you with a large container that holds about 1 gal (4 L). The container has a small amount of preservative in it. Urinate into a small, clean container and then pour the urine into the large container. Do not touch the inside of the container with your fingers.
Keep the large container in the refrigerator for the 24 hours.
Empty your bladder for the final time at or just before the end of the 24-hour period. Add this urine to the large container and record the time.
Do not get toilet paper, pubic hair, stool (feces), menstrual blood, or other foreign matter in the urine sample.

How It Feels

There is no pain while collecting a 24-hour urine sample.

Risks

There is no chance for problems while collecting a 24-hour urine sample.

Results

A test for calcium in urine is a 24-hour test that checks the amount of calcium that is passed from the body.

Normal

The normal values listed here-called a reference range-are just a guide. These ranges vary from lab to lab, and your lab may have a different range for what’s normal. Your lab report should contain the range your lab uses. Also, your doctor will evaluate your results based on your health and other factors. This means that a value that falls outside the normal values listed here may still be normal for you or your lab.

Test results may be affected by the amount of calcium in the diet.

**Calcium in urine**
Low amount of calcium in diet:	50-150 milligrams (mg)/24-hour sample or 1.25-3.75 millimoles (mmol) per day
Average amount of calcium in diet:	100-250 mg/24-hour sample or 2.5-7.5 mmol per day
High amount of calcium in diet:	250-300 mg/24-hour sample or 6.2-7.5 mmol per day

High values

High values of calcium in the urine may be caused by:

In some cases, calcium in the urine may be high for other reasons. One example of this is idiopathic familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia.

Low values

Low values of calcium in the urine may be caused by:

Hypoparathyroidism.
Not getting enough vitamin D.
Preeclampsia.
Kidney problems.
Malnutrition caused by diseases such as celiac disease, pancreatitis, and alcoholism.

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WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: September 20, 2010

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.