Determination of reference intervals for serum total calcium in the vitamin D-replete pediatric population.
BACKGROUND
Widespread vitamin D insufficiency raises concerns regarding the reliability of reference intervals for serum calcium.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the reference intervals for serum total calcium in pediatric subjects without vitamin D [25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]] deficiency [20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L)].


METHODS
This was a retrospective study of laboratory data obtained from all patients at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia from July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012. Patients in the renal unit, the endocrine unit, or a critical care unit were excluded. Total serum calcium was determined using a colorimetric assay and serum 25(OH)D was determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. We ascertained 4629 subjects who had a serum 25(OH)D between 20 and 80 ng/mL (50-200 nmol/L) and a serum calcium level determined within 30 days of the 25(OH)D measurement. For comparison, we used data from an unselected cohort of patients (n = 106 220).


RESULTS
Parametric analyses generated age-specific reference intervals for serum total calcium for each of several age groups (0-90 d old, 91-180 d old, 181-365 d old, 1-3 y old, 4-11 y old, and 12-19 y old). A two-way ANOVA with Tukey's correction showed significant differences between the lower limits of normal (P < .001) and the normal range (P < .001) but not for the upper limit of normal for these subjects compared with unselected subjects. Student's t tests revealed significant differences at all ages between calcium concentrations in those with 25(OH)D values between 20 and 30 ng/mL and those with 25(OH)D values between 30 and 80 ng/mL.


CONCLUSIONS
These reference intervals refine previous normal ranges that likely included subjects with vitamin D deficiency.
Division of Pathology and Lab Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104. dc8236710@yahoo.com.
Jeffrey D
JD
Roizen
Vipul
V
Shah
Michael A
MA
Levine
Dean C
DC
Carlow
D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2 / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D000328:Adult; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010414:Pennsylvania; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2; D002112:Calcifediol; D002118:Calcium