Phosphate Test Price in Pakistan: Rs 525 at Marham Lab

A phosphate blood test measures the amount of phosphate in a sample of your blood. MedlinePlus explains that phosphate contains the mineral phosphorus, which is why a phosphate test is sometimes called a phosphorus test. At Marham Lab the test costs Rs 525, reduced from Rs 750.

This is the single most useful thing to understand about the result.

MedlinePlus explains that the amount of phosphate in your blood is linked to your levels of calcium, vitamin D and parathyroid hormone. On calcium it is precise: when blood calcium levels increase, phosphate levels decrease, and when calcium levels decrease, phosphate levels increase. Vitamin D helps your body use phosphate. Parathyroid hormone, made by parathyroid glands in your neck, helps balance phosphate and calcium in your blood.

Because of this, MedlinePlus notes the test is often done together with blood tests that measure calcium, vitamin D and PTH.

If a calcium result came back abnormal and someone added phosphate, that is the correct instinct, not an upsell.

MedlinePlus explains that phosphate is a type of electrolyte, meaning an electrically charged mineral, and that electrolytes help control the amount of fluid and the balance of acids and bases in your body. It lists what phosphate is needed for: building strong bones and teeth, where most of the phosphate in your body sits combined with calcium, making energy, and helping nerves and muscles work properly.

Your body controls the amount tightly through two organs, according to MedlinePlus.

• Kidneys. They filter extra phosphate from your blood and remove it in urine. If your level is low, they limit how much is lost
• Intestines. They control how much phosphorus you absorb from food

It notes the phosphorus in phosphate comes from foods including nuts and seeds, dairy products, dried beans, meats, poultry and eggs.

MedlinePlus states the test is often used with other tests to diagnose or monitor kidney disease, especially chronic kidney disease, where high phosphate levels are a common sign that the kidneys are not working well to get rid of extra phosphate. It also names bone disorders, noting that high phosphate can pull calcium out of bones and weaken them over time, and parathyroid disorders.

It adds that the test may be used to monitor people with diabetes that is not well controlled, or signs of an acid base imbalance.

Worth being honest about, because people expect to feel something.

MedlinePlus states that phosphate levels which are either high or mildly low usually do not cause any symptoms on their own. It then lists the exceptions.

Symptoms of the low calcium that high phosphate can cause: nails that break easily or hair that becomes coarse, rash or itchy skin, muscle cramps, bone pain, seizures, and irregular heartbeat.

Symptoms of severely low phosphate, which MedlinePlus says can become life-threatening and needs immediate treatment: muscle pain or weakness, bone pain, changes in your mental condition such as feeling confused or very irritable, seizures, and coma.

MedlinePlus notes your report may say phosphorus levels or phosphate levels, and that these terms mean the same thing. The meaning depends on your symptoms, medical history and other test results.

High, called hyperphosphataemia. MedlinePlus lists late stages of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure, where damaged kidneys cannot filter out extra phosphate so it builds up, and notes that in someone with kidney disease eating too much phosphorus-rich food may also raise levels. It also lists hypoparathyroidism, where low PTH gives low calcium and high phosphate, acidosis meaning too much acid in the blood, and long term use of steroids, laxatives and enemas containing phosphate.

Low, called hypophosphataemia. MedlinePlus states mildly low levels often are not a health problem. Conditions that may need treatment include hyperparathyroidism, which gives high calcium and low phosphate, and vitamin D deficiency, which it notes can lead to osteomalacia or soft bones, called rickets in children. It also lists getting too little phosphorus from food, naming premature babies and people with certain rare genetic disorders, severe malnutrition, alcohol use disorder or absorption problems, and long term use of antacids containing aluminium hydroxide or calcium carbonate and certain prescription diuretics.

Two caveats MedlinePlus gives: an abnormal level does not always mean you have a condition needing treatment, and children often have higher phosphate levels because their bones are still growing. A child's result should not be read against an adult range.

MedlinePlus states your provider will tell you how to prepare, and that you may need to fast for several hours before giving the sample. So confirm with whoever ordered it.

It adds that certain medicines, vitamins and supplements can affect accuracy, so tell your provider about everything you take including over-the-counter medicines. Do not stop any prescription medicine unless your provider tells you to. Antacids and diuretics are the ones that matter most here.

A trained phlebotomist takes a blood sample from a vein in your arm, which usually takes less than five minutes. In Lahore the sample can be collected at your home at no extra cost.