Test ID: CAF
Calcium, Feces
Secondary ID 
A test code used for billing and in test definitions created prior to November 2011
NY State Approved Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Identification of abnormal physiologic states causing excess or suppressed absorption or excretion of calcium
Special Instructions and Forms Describes specimen collection and preparation information, test algorithms, and other information pertinent to test. Also includes pertinent information and consent forms to be used when requesting a particular test
Method Name A short description of the method used to perform the test
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES)
Reporting Name A shorter/abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test; an abbreviated test name
Aliases Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
Calcium (Ca)
Specimen Type Describes the specimen type needed for testing
Specimen Required Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.
Container/Tube: Stool container (Supply T291)
Specimen Volume: Entire stool collection
Collection Instructions: See Stool Collection Information Sheet in Special Instructions.
Additional Information:
1. Random or timed specimen is acceptable.
2. Results will be reported as mg/kg regardless of collection duration.
Specimen Minimum Volume Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.
Reject Due To Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | NA |
| Lipemia | NA |
| Icterus | NA |
| Other | NA |
Specimen Stability Information Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fecal | Frozen (preferred) | 14 days |
| Refrigerated | 14 days |
Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Calcium is the fifth most common element in the body. It is a fundamental element necessary to form electrical gradients across membranes, it is an essential cofactor for many enzymes, and it is the main constituent in bone. Under normal physiologic conditions, the concentration of calcium in serum and in cells is tightly controlled.
Calcium is excreted in both the urine and the feces.
Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
800-1,200 mg/kg
Reference values apply to all ages.
Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
Increased fecal excretion of calcium is observed in diseases involving high calcium turnover such as hyperparathyroidism, vitamin D intoxication, diseases that destroy bone (such as multiple myeloma), metastasis from prostatic cancer, and following calcium supplementation.
Patients with absorptive hypercalciuria (increased gut absorption) will have low fecal calcium with dietary restriction, facilitating differentiation from patients with hypercalcuria caused by hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Paget's disease, or "renal leak" type of calciuria as seen in renal tubular acidosis.
Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
Gadolinium is known to interfere with most metals tests. If gadolinium-containing contrast media has been administered a specimen can not be collected for 48 hours.
Clinical Reference Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
1. Abrams SA, Schanler RJ, Yergey AL, et al: Compartmental analysis of calcium metabolism in very-low-birth-weight infants. Pediatr Res 1994 October;36(4):424-428
2. Ditscheid B, Keller S, Jahreis G: Cholesterol metabolism is affected by calcium phosphate supplementation in humans. J Nutr 2005;135(7):1678-1682
3. Nishimuta M, Inoue N, Kodama N, et al: Moisture and mineral content of human feces - high fecal moisture is associated with increased sodium and decreased potassium content. J. Nutr Sci Vitaminol 2006 April;56:121-126
Method Description Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference
A small fraction of weighed stool is digested in hydrochloric acid and then analyzed for calcium concentration by inductively coupled plasma-optical-emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Aqueous acidic calibrating standards, quality control samples, patient specimens, and blanks are diluted with diluent containing an internal standard. In turn, all diluted blanks, calibrating standards, quality control samples, and patient specimens are aspirated into a pneumatic nebulizer and the resulting aerosol directed to the hot plasma discharge by a flow of argon. In the annular plasma the aerosol is vaporized, atomized, and then ionized. Emission signals from calcium (Ca) and the internal standard are observed radially by the emission spectrometer. Instrumentation response is defined by the linear relationship of analyte concentrations versus the ratio of the Ca emission signals ratioed with the internal standard. After reagent blank subtraction, unknown sample Ca concentrations are calculated by entering the net unknown intensity ratios into the linear calibration equation. (Nixon DE, Moyer TP, Johnson P, et al: Routine measurement of calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, and iron in urine and serum by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy. Clin Chem 1986 September;32[9]:1660-1665)
Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.
Monday through Friday; evening
Analytic Time Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.
Maximum Laboratory Time Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result
Specimen Retention Time Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location The location of the laboratory that performs the test
Test Classification Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer's instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR), Investigation Use Only (IUO) product, or a Research Use Only (RUO) product.
CPT Code Information Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Medical Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.
82310
LOINC® Code Information Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the result codes returned for this test or profile.
| Result ID | Reporting Name | LOINC Code |
|---|---|---|
| 8379 | Calcium, F | 53455-2 |
| 7603 | Total Weight | 34648-6 |
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