Fasting Required: Morning, fasting sample is desirable, since some diurnal variation exists (which may reflect postural changes).
Specimen: Blood
Results: 1-2 Business Days
Description: Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body with the bones and teeth housing 99% of all calcium in the body. Best known for its role in maintaining the strength and density of bones, calcium also plays a role in many physiological activities including: blood clotting, nerve conduction, muscle contraction, regulation of enzyme activity, and cell membrane function. Because these activities are essential to life, calcium is the most closely regulated element in our bodies. In fact, calcium is the only mineral that has its own regulatory system (the parathyroid glands). Parathyroid glands control how much calcium is in our bones, and how much calcium is in our blood.