Newcastle Laboratories

Magnesium, serum

Clinical Background:

Magnesium is measured in the diagnosis and monitoring of hyper‐ or hypomagnesaemia. Magnesium is an essential co‐factor in the formation of the substrates of many enzymes and an activator of many e...

Magnesium is measured in the diagnosis and monitoring of hyper‐ or hypomagnesaemia. Magnesium is an essential co‐factor in the formation of the substrates of many enzymes and an activator of many enzyme systems. It is important in oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, cell replication, nucleotide metabolism and protein biosynthesis. Magnesium has an important role in membrane stabilisation, nerve conduction, ion transport and calcium channel activity. Magnesium is the second most prevalent intracellular cation; this fraction accounts for approximately 45% of the total body magnesium. Extracellular magnesium accounts for 1% of the total body magnesium content.

Read More

Test Details

  • Discipline:

    Biochemistry

    Biochemistry

  • Specimen Container Adult:

    Serum (SST or plain tube)

    Serum (SST or plain tube)

  • Specimen Container Paediatric:

    Serum (SST or plain tube)

    Serum (SST or plain tube)

  • Minimum Volume Adult:

    1 mL blood

    1 mL blood

  • Minimum Volume Paediatric:

    0.5 mL blood

    0.5 mL blood

  • Sample Stability:

    Unseparated sample: 1 day

    Separated:
    at +15° to +25°C: 7 days
    at +2° to +8°C: 7 days

    at -20C: 1 year

    Unseparated sample: 1 day

    Separated:
    at +15° to +25°C: 7 days
    at +2° to +8°C: 7 days

    at -20C: 1 year

  • Reference Ranges:

    0 - 4w: 0.60 - 1.00 mmol/L
    4w and over: 0.70 - 1.00 mmol/L

    0 - 4w: 0.60 - 1.00 mmol/L
    4w and over: 0.70 - 1.00 mmol/L

  • Other Info:

    lithium heparin plasma sample also acceptable

    lithium heparin plasma sample also acceptable

  • Routine Contact Name:

    Duty Biochemist

  • Routine Telephone:

    Freeman: 0191 244 8889
    RVI: 0191 282 9719

    Freeman: 0191 244 8889
    RVI: 0191 282 9719

  • Routine Email:

Availability:

All times
All sites

Turn Around:

Urgent: within 1 hour,
Non urgent: within 4 hours

View all tests