Calcium in Urine Test

A calcium in urine test measures the amount of calcium in your urine (pee). If your urine calcium levels aren't normal, it may be a sign of kidney disease, a parathyroid disorder, bone disease, or another condition that affects how your body uses calcium. Calcium is one of the most important minerals in your body.

Most of your calcium is stored in your bones and teeth. About 1% of the calcium in your body is in your blood. If there's too much calcium in your blood, the extra calcium may be stored in your bones or passed in your urine and stool (poop).

Having just the right amount of calcium in your blood is necessary for your nerves, muscles, and heart to work properly. Your blood calcium levels are carefully controlled by your parathyroid glands, which are 4 pea-sized glands in your neck. If your blood calcium levels get too low, these glands make parathyroid hormones (PTH).

The hormones are chemical messengers in your bloodstream that work to increase your blood calcium levels until they are normal again. PTH raises blood calcium levels by: Causing your bones to release calcium into your blood; Helping your intestines absorb calcium from food; Helping your kidneys hold on to calcium and return it to your blood instead of flushing it out in urine;

Why this test is done

You may need a calcium in urine test if you have symptoms of a kidney stone. These symptoms include:

• Sharp pain in your lower abdomen (belly), back, side, or groin
• Blood in your urine
• Frequent need to urinate (pee)
• Pain while urinating
• Inability to urinate or urinating only small amounts
• Cloudy or bad-smelling urine
• Nausea and vomiting

You may also need a calcium in urine test if:

• You have been diagnosed with overactive parathyroid glands (hyperparathyroidism). This means your glands make too much parathyroid hormone (PTH). The test can help find out how severe your condition is. It can also help show if a kidney problem may be causing high PTH.
• You have symptoms of underactive parathyroid glands (hypoparathyroidism). This means your glands make too little PTH. Without enough PTH, your kidneys may filter too much calcium out of your blood and into your urine. Symptoms of hypoparathyroidism include:
• Tingling fingers and toes
• Muscle cramps and spasms in the face, hands, legs, and feet
• Muscle weakness and fatigue
• Seizures

Your provider may also order a calcium in urine test if you had a routine calcium blood test with abnormal results.

How to prepare

Your provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow. You may be asked to avoid certain foods and medicines for several days before the test. But don't stop taking any medicines without talking with your provider first.

Sample type

Urine

Other names for this test

urinalysis (calcium), urinary Ca+2