Specimen Information

Type

Gold, SST

Volume

1.0 ml

Transport Info

Refrigerated
48 hour stability

Fasting Required?

False

Clinical Significance

Evaluate metabolic disorders; work up convulsions, coma, tetany, vertigo, ataxia, muscular weakness, nystagmus, malabsorption, diarrhea, aldosteronism, pancreatitis, electrolyte, water balance, acid-base balance, renal failure; evaluate Addison's disease, increased cardiac conduction time (hypermagnesemia), hypomagnesemia associated with increased cardiac conduction time (hypermagnesemia), hypomagnesemia associated with long term hyperalimentation intravenous therapy, cardiac arrhythmias including those associated with digoxin toxicity; work up alcoholism with delirium tremens; work up ketoacidosis in diabetes mellitus; work up patients whose renal tubular reabsorption of magnesium is decreased, including those with extracellular fluid expansion, renal vasodilatation, osmotic diuresis, diuretic therapy, digoxin, hypercalcemia, vitamin D therapy, alcohol ingestion, high sodium intake, increased growth hormone, calcitonin, cortisol, and hyperthyroidism.

Determination of magnesium is useful in assessing several diseases and conditions. High magnesium is associated with uremia, dehydration, diabetic acidosis, Addison’s disease, and increased medicinal intake of magnesium, such as in the treatment of pre-eclampsia (hypertension induced by pregnancy). Low magnesium is associated with malabsorption syndrome, acute pancreatitis, hypoparathyroidism, chronic alcoholism and delirium tremens, chronic glomerulonephritis, aldosteronism, digitalis intoxication, and protracted I.V. feeding.