Calcium (Corrected) (CA-CORR)

What is Calcium (Corrected)?

Corrected calcium adjusts total calcium levels for albumin concentration, providing a more accurate assessment of biologically active calcium. Since about half of blood calcium is bound to albumin, low protein levels can make total calcium appear falsely low.

Why is it Tested?

Doctors order corrected calcium when albumin levels are abnormal, during critical illness, or when total calcium results don’t match clinical symptoms. It’s particularly useful in hospitalized patients, those with liver disease, or malnutrition where albumin may be low.

Normal Ranges

Reference ranges vary by lab. General adult guidelines:

Adults: 8.6–10.2 mg/dL

The correction formula typically adds 0.8 mg/dL for every 1 g/dL that albumin falls below 4.0 g/dL, though exact formulas vary by laboratory.

Reference ranges vary by authority. Track yours across multiple standards with automatic unit conversions in LabsVault.

What do Abnormal Results Mean?

Abnormal results are not a diagnosis. Always discuss your results with a qualified healthcare provider before making any medical decisions.

Low Corrected Calcium

True hypocalcemia may indicate:

Hypoparathyroidism
Vitamin D deficiency
Kidney disease
Magnesium deficiency
Acute pancreatitis

High Corrected Calcium

True hypercalcemia may point to:

Primary hyperparathyroidism
Malignancy with calcium elevation
Granulomatous diseases (sarcoidosis)
Excessive calcium or vitamin D supplementation
Immobilization in young patients

How to Track Over Time

Corrected calcium provides a clearer picture of calcium status when protein levels fluctuate. It’s especially valuable for monitoring patients with chronic illness, liver disease, or during recovery from critical illness where albumin levels may be unstable.

Calcium (Corrected)