Calcium, Urine Test

The “Calcium in Urine” test checks the amount of calcium that is passed away from the body into the urine. The test is a 24 – hour long procedure. Calcium plays a crucial role in the body. It facilitates the growth and development of muscles, bones and teeth. Calcium levels in the body are controlled through well planned mechanisms. A urine calcium test detects the presence of kidney stones due to an extra amount of calcium in the body. It also checks the absorption power of intestinal tubes. Allied problems that lead to the loss of calcium from the bones are checked. Issues with the parathyroid glands get highlighted through a urine calcium test.

You need to control your diet for a couple of days before the test day. Be careful about the diet because it won’t be a regular one. A diet that influences the calcium levels in your body (high or low) is instructed. Follow it carefully because the results of your test depend on it. Usually, the doctor or the lab suggest that the diet should be followed for several days before the test. It helps in obtaining more accurate and more precise results.

The test is risk free and there are no chances for any kind of problems to occur. The sample is tested for checking the levels of calcium in the urine. It helps in revealing the following results:
• High concentration of calcium:
1. Cancer
2. Hyperparathyroidism
3. Paget’s Disease
4. Sarcoidosis or
5. Idiopathic Familial Hypocalciuric Hypercalcemia
• Low concentration of calcium:
1. Kidney stones or other problems
2. Hypoparathyroidism
3. Inadequate supply of Vitamin D
4. Malnutrition
5. Might indicate a set of other issues like alcoholism, pancreatitis or celiac disease.

The urine produced within a specific 24 hour period is collected. This collected urine forms the sample which is tested to measure the calcium levels.
• Your first urine for the session need not be collected but mark the time to track the initiation of your 24 hour period.
• Collect every urine expelled after this in a container provided by the doctor/lab. DO NOT touch the insides of the container with your fingers.
• Add the last urine of the day into the container and record the time. Refrigerate the collected sample.
• Note that the container should only consist of urine and not any other foreign materials.