Urine Test: Calcium
What It Is
A urine calcium test is done to determine how much of the mineral calcium is being excreted in the urine by the kidneys.
Why It's Done
A urine test for calcium is often done to:
- help determine the cause of kidney stones and other kidney diseases
- detect overactivity or underactivity in the parathyroid glands (glands in the neck that produce hormones that help control the level of calcium in the blood)
- monitor disorders of the kidney and diseases of calcium metabolism
Results may also point to digestive disorders that interfere with the small intestine's ability to absorb nutrients. The test is usually used in combination with other tests to make a specific diagnosis.
Preparation
The doctor might prescribe a special diet with high or low levels of calcium for a few days before the test. Your child might need to temporarily stop taking specific drugs, such as antacids, that affect calcium levels in the urine.
The Procedure
Collecting the specimen should only take a few minutes. Your child will be asked to urinate into a clean sample cup in the doctor's office. If your child isn't potty trained and can't urinate into a cup, a small catheter may need to be inserted into the bladder to obtain the urine specimen.
Alternatively, a urine collection bag with adhesive tape on one end may be used to collect a sample from an infant. You'll clean your baby's genital area and then arrange the bag around the urinary opening. Once the bag is in place, secure it with the attached tape. You can then put a diaper on your baby. Check your baby's collection bag and remove it after your child has urinated, usually within an hour.
After you bring the sample to the lab, technicians will analyze it for calcium content.
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