The Phosphate (as Phosphorus) test contains 1 test with 1 biomarker.
Description: A Phosphate or phosphorus test is a blood test that measures the level of phosphorus in your blood’s serum to screen for conditions associated with abnormal phosphorus levels such as kidney, liver, and bone disease.
Also Known As: Inorganic Phosphate Test, P Test, Phosphate as Phosphorus Test, Phosphorus Test, Phosphate Test, PO4 Test
Collection Method: Blood Draw
Specimen Type: Serum
Test Preparation: No preparation required
When is a Phosphate test ordered?
Because modestly elevated phosphorus levels normally do not induce symptoms, phosphorus testing is usually done after an abnormal calcium test and/or when signs of abnormal calcium, such as fatigue, muscle weakness, cramps, or bone issues, are evident.
When symptoms suggest kidney or gastrointestinal problems, phosphorus testing may be recommended in conjunction with other tests.
Testing for both phosphorus and calcium levels may be conducted at regular intervals to assess therapy effectiveness when problems causing abnormal phosphorus and/or calcium levels are discovered.
When a person develops diabetes or shows signs of an acid-base imbalance, their phosphorus levels may be monitored.
What does a Phosphate blood test check for?
Phosphorus is a mineral that forms organic and inorganic phosphate compounds when it reacts with other elements. When it comes to testing, the terms phosphorus and phosphate are frequently interchanged, but a serum phosphorus/phosphate test measures the amount of inorganic phosphate in the blood.
Energy production, muscle and neuron function, and bone formation all require phosphorus. They also serve as a buffer, assisting in the maintenance of the body's acid-base equilibrium.
Phosphorus enters the body through the food we eat. It can be found in a wide variety of meals and is quickly absorbed by the intestines. About 70-80 percent of the phosphates in the body combine with calcium to help build bones and teeth, another 10% is located in muscle, and about 1% is found in nerve tissue. The rest can be found in cells all across the body, where they are mostly employed to store energy.
In normal circumstances, only about 1% of total body phosphates are found in the blood. Phosphorus is found in a wide range of foods, including beans, peas, and almonds, cereals, dairy products, eggs, meat, poultry, and fish. The body regulates how much phosphorus/phosphate it takes from the intestines and how much it excretes through the kidneys to maintain phosphorus/phosphate levels in the blood. The combination of parathyroid hormone, calcium, and vitamin D affects phosphate levels as well.
Malnutrition, malabsorption, acid-base imbalances, hypercalcemia, and illnesses that impact kidney function can all cause phosphorus shortages. Phosphorus excesses can occur as a result of high phosphorus ingestion, hypocalcemia, or kidney disease.
Often, a person with a mild to severe phosphorus deficit has no symptoms. Muscle weakness and disorientation are common symptoms of severe phosphorus insufficiency. Muscle cramps, confusion, and even convulsions can be caused by a severe excess of phosphorus, which is comparable to the symptoms of low calcium.
Lab tests often ordered with a Phosphate test:
- Calcium
- Complete Blood Count
- Iron Total
- Iron Total and Total Iron binding capacity
- Magnesium
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
- Vitamin D
- Parathyroid Hormone
Conditions where a Phosphate test is recommended:
- Kidney Disease
- Diabetes
- Acidosis
- Alkalosis
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Malnutrition
- Alcoholism
- Hypothyroidism
How does my health care provider use a Phosphate test?
Phosphorus tests are frequently requested in conjunction with other tests, such as calcium, parathyroid hormone, and/or vitamin D, to aid in the diagnosis and/or monitoring of various calcium and phosphorus abnormalities.
While phosphorus tests are most typically done on blood samples, urine samples are sometimes used to evaluate phosphorus clearance by the kidneys.
What does my Phosphorus test result mean?
Hypophosphatemia can be caused by or linked to:
- Hypercalcemia
- Diuretics overuse
- Malnutrition
- Alcoholism
- Burns that are severe
- Ketoacidosis in diabetics
- Hypothyroidism
- Hypokalemia
- Use of antacids on a regular basis
- Rickets and osteomalacia
Hyperphosphatemia can be caused by or linked to:
- Failure of the kidneys
- Hepatitis
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Ketoacidosis in diabetics
- Phosphate supplementation
We advise having your results reviewed by a licensed medical healthcare professional for proper interpretation of your results.
