Phosphate
About Test
The phosphate test measures the concentration of phosphate in the blood, an essential mineral for bone health, energy production, and maintaining the body’s acid-base balance. Abnormal levels can signal issues such as kidney disease, bone disorders, or malnutrition. High phosphate levels (hyperphosphataemia) might indicate chronic kidney disease or excessive phosphate intake, causing symptoms like muscle cramps or itching. Low levels (hypophosphataemia) can lead to weakness, fatigue, or bone pain, often due to malnutrition or vitamin D deficiency. This test is crucial for diagnosing and managing various health conditions related to phosphate balance.
Sample Requirements
Gold SST Tube
Stability
Serum: 1 day 20-25°C, 4 days 2-8°C
Turnaround Time
4 hours
Assay Interferences
Interferences
Lipemia: Interference less than 10% or 0.1 mmol/L up to 800 mg/dL Intralipid
Icterus: Interference less than 3% or 0.1 mmol/L up to 40 mg/dL or 684 µmol/L bilirubin
Hemolysis: Hemolysis must be avoided as Phosphate may be split off from labile esters in the erythrocytes.
Other: In very rare cases gammopathy, especially monoclonal IgM (Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia), may cause unreliable results.
Eltrombopag and its metabolites may interfere with this assay causing erroneously high patient results.
Patients receiving a high-dose liposomal Amphotericin B therapy (L-AMB) may generate false low results with this reagent
Reference Range (mmol/L):
Children: 1.3 – 2.3 / Adult: 1.0 - 1.5
Critical Value:
Below 0.58 mmol/L