I just got my latest total calcium results. I stopped taking
strontium citrate for 17 days prior to my blood collection date of 11/13/2014.
My result was 9.8 mg/dL, with a reference range of 8.5 to 10.5 mg/dL.
I began stopping the strontium for several days prior to blood draws as of 07/24/2012. I also switched laboratories on that date. My calcium results have all been normal. The 10.3 result of 07/24/2012 was high normal, according to the reference range for the new laboratory.
Collection Date Stopped
Strontium? Total
Calcium Ref. Range
11/13/2014 Yes, 17 days before test 9.8 8.5-10.5
11/12/2013
Yes, 12 days before
test 9.5
8.5-10.5
07/24/2012
Yes, 11 days before test
10.3 8.5-10.5
Prior to 07/24/2012, I was either not stopping my strontium
or stopping just a day before blood collection. I had one high calcium result
on 12/28/2009 (10.3 with reference range of 8.6-10.2 mg/dL). You will note all
these earlier calcium tests were done at a different laboratory, with a
different reference range.
Collection Date Stopped
Strontium? Total
Calcium Ref. Range
12/09/2010 Yes, night before test 9.8 8.6-10.2
12/09/2010 Yes, night before test 9.8 8.6-10.2
12/28/2009
No 10.3
H 8.6-10.2
03/19/2009
No 9.7
8.6-10.2
01/06/2009
No
10.1 8.6-10.2
The reason for stopping strontium for at least 12 days prior
to blood or urine collection for calcium:
I have read that strontium reaches peak blood levels in 12
days of strontium intake. Servier, the manufacturer of strontium ranelate, has
stated that sr. ranelate interferes with colorimetric tests for calcium.
Automated total serum calcium tests are colorimetric. Urine calcium tests are
usually colorimetric. If you stop taking strontium for 12 days or more, your
blood level should be significantly lower than peak level. Therefore, it may be
a good idea to stop taking strontium 12-14 days prior to having blood drawn for
a total serum calcium and prior to collecting urine for a urine calcium test.
Urine calcium values may vary considerably and are only meaningful if the
patient is kept on a low-calcium, neutral-ash diet for three days before
collection.
I’m not sure if stopping strontium citrate prior to specimen
collection for calcium tests has made a difference for me or not, but I want to
avoid another high calcium result. I have had one, and it was most likely falsely
elevated by strontium.
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