Home
HelpTest ID CACR3 Calcium/Creatinine Ratio, Random, Urine
Specimen Required
Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube 5 mL (T914)
Collection Container/Tube: Clean, plastic urine container with no metal cap or glued insert
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic, 5-mL tube or a clean, plastic aliquot container with no metal cap or glued insert
Specimen Volume: 4 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Collect a random urine specimen.
2. No preservative.
Useful For
Evaluation of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate kidney stone risk
Calculation of urinary supersaturation
Evaluation of bone diseases, including osteoporosis and osteomalacia
Profile Information
| Test ID | Reporting Name | Available Separately | Always Performed |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCTR | Calcium/Creat Ratio, Random, U | No | Yes |
| CALC5 | Calcium, Random, U | No | Yes |
| CRETR | Creatinine, Random, U | No | Yes |
Method Name
CALC5: Photometric
CRETR: Enzymatic Colorimetric Assay
Reporting Name
Calcium/Creat Ratio, Random, USpecimen Type
UrineSpecimen Minimum Volume
1 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urine | Refrigerated (preferred) | 14 days | |
| Frozen | 30 days | ||
| Ambient | 72 hours |
Reject Due To
| All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability. |
Clinical Information
Calcium is the fifth most common element in the body. It is a fundamental element necessary to form electrical gradients across membranes, an essential cofactor for many enzymes, and 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 urine and feces. Ordinarily about 20% to 25% of dietary calcium is absorbed, and 98% of filtered calcium is reabsorbed in the kidney. Traffic of calcium between the gastrointestinal tract, bone, and kidney is tightly controlled by a complex regulatory system that includes vitamin D and parathyroid hormone. Sufficient bioavailable calcium is essential for bone health. Excessive excretion of calcium in the urine is a common contributor to kidney stone risk.
Reference Values
1 month-<12 months: 0.03-0.81 mg/mg creatinine
12 months-<24 months: 0.03-0.56 mg/mg creatinine
24 months-<3 years: 0.02-0.50 mg/mg creatinine
3 years-<5 years: 0.02-0.41 mg/mg creatinine
5 years-<7 years: 0.01-0.30 mg/mg creatinine
7 years-<10 years: 0.01-0.25 mg/mg creatinine
10 years-<18 years: 0.01-0.24 mg/mg creatinine
18 years-83 years: 0.05-0.27 mg/mg creatinine
Reference values have not been established for patients who are less than 1 month of age.
Reference values have not been established for patients who are greater than 83 years of age.
Interpretation
Increased urinary calcium excretion (hypercalciuria) is a known contributor to kidney stone disease and osteoporosis.
Many cases are genetic (often termed "idiopathic"). Previously such patients were often divided into fasting versus absorptive hypercalciuria depending on the level of urine calcium in a fasting versus fed state, but the clinical utility of this approach is now in question. Overall, the risk of stone disease appears increased when 24-hour urine calcium is greater than 250 mg in men and greater than 200 mg in women. Thiazide diuretics are often used to reduce urinary calcium excretion and repeat urine collections can be performed to monitor the effectiveness of therapy.
Known secondary causes of hypercalciuria include hyperparathyroidism, Paget disease, prolonged immobilization, vitamin D intoxication, and diseases that destroy bone (such as metastatic cancer or multiple myeloma).
Urine calcium excretion can be used to gauge the adequacy of calcium and vitamin D supplementation, for example in states of gastrointestinal fat malabsorption that are associated with decreased bone mineralization (osteomalacia).
Clinical Reference
1. Fraser WD. Bone and mineral metabolism. In: Rifai N, Horwath AR, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2018:1438
2. Curhan GC, Willett WC, Speizer FE, Stampfer MJ. Twenty-four-hour urine chemistries and the risk of kidney stones among women and men. Kidney Int. 2001;59:2290-2298
3. Metz MP. Determining urinary calcium/creatinine cut-offs for the pediatric population using published data. Ann Clin Biochem. 2006;43:398-401
4. Pak CY, Britton F, Peterson R, et al. Ambulatory evaluation of nephrolithiasis. Classification, clinical presentation and diagnostic criteria. AM J Med. 1980;69:19-30
5. Pak CY, Kaplan R, Bone H, et al. A simple test for the diagnosis of absorptive, resorptive and renal hypercalciurias. N Engl J Med. 1975;292:497-500
Method Description
Calcium ions react with 5-nitro-5'-methyl-BAPTA (NM-BAPTA) under alkaline conditions to form a complex. This complex reacts in the second step with EDTA. The change in absorbance is directly proportional to the calcium concentration and is measured photometrically.(Package insert: Roche CA2 kit. Roche Diagnostics; V2.0, 07/2012)
Creatinine Method: The enzymatic method is based on the determination of sarcosine from creatinine with the aid of creatininase, creatinase, and sarcosine oxidase. The liberated hydrogen peroxide is measured via a modified Trinder reaction using a colorimetric indicator. Optimization of the buffer system and the colorimetric indicator enables the creatinine concentration to be quantified both precisely and specifically.(Package insert: Creatinine plus v2. Roche Diagnostics; V15.0, 03/2019)
Test Classification
This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.CPT Code Information
82310
82570
NY State Approved
YesDay(s) Performed
Monday through Sunday
Report Available
1 to 3 daysForms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Renal Diagnostics Test Request (T830) with the specimen.