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- A phosphate in blood test measures the amount of phosphate in a sample of your blood. Phosphate contains the mineral phosphorus. So, a phosphate test is sometimes called a phosphorus test. Phosphate is a type of electrolyte. Electrolytes are electrically charged minerals.
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Feb 20, 2024 · A phosphate test measures the amount of phosphate in your blood. If that sounds too simple, stay tuned for a slight curveball. Phosphate is what you get when you combine the...
- What is a phosphate in blood test?
- What is it used for?
- Why do I need a phosphate in blood test?
- What happens during a phosphate in blood test?
- Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?
- Are there any risks to the test?
- What do the results mean?
- Is there anything else I need to know about a phosphate in blood test?
- References
- Related Health Topics
A phosphate in blood test measures the amount of phosphate in a sample of your blood. Phosphate contains the mineral phosphorus. So, a phosphate test is sometimes called a phosphorus test.
Phosphate is a type of electrolyte. Electrolytes are electrically charged minerals. They help control the amount of fluid and the balance of acids and bases (pH balance) in your body. Your body also needs phosphates for many other important processes, such as:
•Building strong bones and teeth. Most of the phosphate in your body is found in your bones where it is combined with the mineral calcium.
•Making energy.
•Helping your nerves and muscles work properly.
The phosphorus in phosphate comes from the foods you eat, including nuts and seeds, dairy products, dried beans, meats, poultry, and eggs. Your body tightly controls the amount of phosphate in your blood mainly through your:
A phosphate in blood test is often used with other tests to help diagnose and/or monitor:
•Kidney disease, especially chronic kidney disease. High phosphate levels are a common sign that the kidneys aren't working well to get rid of extra phosphate in the blood.
•Bone disorders. High phosphate levels can pull calcium out of bones and weaken them over time.
•Parathyroid disorders. Parathyroid hormones control the balance of phosphate and calcium in the blood. A phosphate test can help show how well the parathyroid glands are working.
A phosphate test may also be used to monitor people who:
•Have diabetes that isn't well controlled
Phosphate levels that are either high or mildly low usually don't cause any symptoms on their own. But you may need a phosphate test with other tests if you:
•Have had an abnormal result on a calcium blood test. A calcium test may be part of a routine exam. Abnormal levels are often linked to abnormal phosphate levels.
•Have symptoms of low calcium levels. High levels of phosphate can lower calcium levels in your blood, which can cause symptoms, such as:
•Nails that break easily, and/or hair that becomes coarse
•Rash and/or itchy skin
•Muscle cramps
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
Your health care provider will tell you how to prepare for your test. You may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before you give your blood sample.
Certain medicines, vitamins and supplements can affect the accuracy of your test results. So tell your provider about everything you take, including over-the-counter medicines. But don't stop taking any prescription medicines unless your provider tells you to.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
The results of your phosphate test may say "phosphorus levels" or "phosphate levels." These terms mean the same thing. The meaning of your test results depends on your symptoms, medical history, and the results of other tests.
In general:
A higher than normal phosphate level is called hyperphosphatemia. High levels are linked to many conditions, including:
•Late stages of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. If damaged kidneys can't filter out extra phosphate, it can build up in your blood. If you have a condition that affects your kidneys, eating too much phosphorus-rich food may also lead to high phosphate levels.
•Hypoparathyroidism. With this condition, your parathyroid glands don't make enough parathyroid hormone (PTH). When PTH is low, calcium levels are low and phosphate levels are high.
•Acidosis. This means having too much acid in your blood from a pH imbalance. It may be caused by a lung disorder or other health conditions, including kidney disease.
Your provider may order a phosphate in urine test instead of or with a phosphate in blood test.
1.Cleveland Clinic: Health Library: Diagnostics & Testing [Internet]. Cleveland (OH): Cleveland Clinic; c2023. Hyperphosphatemia; [reviewed 2022 Oct 14; cited 2023 Mar 28]; [about 14 screens]. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24293-hyperphosphatemia#symptoms-and-causes
2.Cleveland Clinic: Health Library: Diagnostics & Testing [Internet]. Cleveland (OH): Cleveland Clinic; c2023. Hypophosphatemia; [reviewed 2022 Aug 17; cited 2023 Mar 28]; [about 16 screens]. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24040-hypophosphatemia#symptoms-and-causes
3.Goyal R, Jialal I. Hyperphosphatemia. [Updated 2022 Jun 21; cited 2023 Mar 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551586/#_article-23205_s6_
4.Mayo Clinic: Mayo Medical Laboratories [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1995-2022. Test ID: PHOS: Phosphorus (Inorganic), Serum; [cited 2023 Mar 28]; [about 2screens]. Available from: https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/test-catalog/Overview/8408#Clinical-and-Interpretive
5.Merck Manual Consumer Version [Internet]. Kenilworth (NJ): Merck & Co. Inc.; c2023. Overview of Phosphate's Role in the Body; [modified 2022 Sep; cited 2023 Mar 20]; [about 1 screens]. Available from: http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/hormonal-and-metabolic-disorders/electrolyte-balance/overview-of-phosphate-s-role-in-the-body
6.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Minderal & Bone Disorder in Chronic Kidney Disease; [reviewed 2021 Nov; cited 2023 Mar 28]; [about 10 screens]. Available from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/mineral-bone-disorder#causes
Phosphorus is an element that plays an important role in the body. In the body, almost all phosphorus is combined with oxygen, forming phosphate. Phosphate is one of the body's electrolytes, which are minerals that carry an electric charge when dissolved in body fluids such as blood, but the majority of phosphate in the body is uncharged.
The phosphorus blood test measures the amount of phosphate in the blood. How the Test is Performed. A blood sample is needed. How to Prepare for the Test. Your health care provider may tell you to temporarily stop taking medicines that may affect the test. These medicines include water pills (diuretics), antacids, and laxatives.
Phosphorus is a common mineral found in the food you eat. It's also found in teeth and bones. Having a high or low level of phosphorus in your bloodstream can signal a number of health conditions. Most commonly, a high level of phosphorus is related to a kidney disorder.
Phosphorescence is a type of photoluminescence related to fluorescence. When exposed to light (radiation) of a shorter wavelength, a phosphorescent substance will glow, absorbing the light and reemitting it at a longer wavelength. Unlike fluorescence, a phosphorescent material does not immediately reemit the radiation it absorbs.
The meaning of PHOSPHORESCE is to exhibit phosphorescence.
