Calcium - urine

Last updated: Thursday, 08, April, 2004

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Item Process
Specimen

24 hour urine collection with HCl as preservative - consult pathologist.

Method

Spectrophotometry or atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Reference Interval

2.5-7.5 mmol/24 hours

<0.4 mol/mol creatinine.

Application

Usually for investigation of renal calculi.

Diagnosis of hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia.

Interpretation

Increased excretion seen with high dietary intake of calcium, increased mobilisation of calcium from bone, and most conditions associated with hypercalcaemia.
Hypercalciuria is a risk factor for renal calculi.

Reference

Pak CYC. Urologic Clin N Amer 1981; 8: 243-252.

Marx SJ. N Engl J Med 2000; 343(25): 1863-1875.