Published
This is used to estimate the true (physiologically active) calcium level if the albumin were to be within normal limits. Patients with hypoalbuminemia will have a false-low serum calcium level on chemistries, due to albumin-bound calcium. An ionized calcium is a more accurate test.
Keep in mind that even if you have a patient with a "normal" serum calcium level, if they also are hypoalbuminemic they may actually be hypercalcemic.
If you Google "corrected calcium", you'll find links to calculators.
emmanuel knows what she speaks of.
here we go:
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_homeostasis
leslie
onesunniegal
95 Posts
Hey gang,
Hope all is well with everyone. In clinicals (I am in a nursing intern program) corrected calciums came up. I don't think I heard about this in nursing school. I've done some research, and all I can find is clinical study information and the formula which is:
corrected cal = serum cal. + 0.8 (4- serum albumin).
Could someone kindly explain to the new nurse (me, ; ) what this means and why we might see it being done?
Thanks ever so much!!,
Sunnie