What is the normal range for total serum calcium?

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Multiple Choice

What is the normal range for total serum calcium?

Normal total serum calcium reflects both bound and free calcium in the blood. The widely accepted reference range is 8.5 to 10.5 mg/dL. This interval is used because most calcium is protein-bound (primarily to albumin) with a portion existing as free ionized calcium, and total calcium tends to track with albumin levels. If albumin is low, total calcium can appear low even when the physiologically active ionized calcium is normal, so in that situation it’s useful to adjust the total calcium for albumin or measure ionized calcium directly. In mmol/L, the corresponding range is about 2.12 to 2.62 mmol/L. Values outside this range raise concern for hypo- or hypercalcemia and warrant further evaluation.

Normal total serum calcium reflects both bound and free calcium in the blood. The widely accepted reference range is 8.5 to 10.5 mg/dL. This interval is used because most calcium is protein-bound (primarily to albumin) with a portion existing as free ionized calcium, and total calcium tends to track with albumin levels. If albumin is low, total calcium can appear low even when the physiologically active ionized calcium is normal, so in that situation it’s useful to adjust the total calcium for albumin or measure ionized calcium directly. In mmol/L, the corresponding range is about 2.12 to 2.62 mmol/L. Values outside this range raise concern for hypo- or hypercalcemia and warrant further evaluation.

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