COD 11570 COD 11571 CALCIUM-ARSENAZO

1 x 200 mL 1 x 500 mL
STORE AT 2-8ºC
Reagents for measurement of calcium concentration
Only for in vitro use in the clinical laboratory
CALCIUM-ARSENAZO
ARSENAZO III

PRINCIPLE OF THE METHOD QUALITY CONTROL

Calcium in the sample reacts with arsenazo III forming a coloured complex that can be measured It is recommended to use the Biochemistry Control Serum level I (cod. 18005, 18009 and 18042)
by spectrophotometry1. and II (cod. 18007, 18010 and 18043) to verify the performance of the measurement procedure.
Each laboratory should establish its own internal Quality Control scheme and procedures for
CONTENTS
corrective action if controls do not recover within the acceptable tolerances.
COD 11570 COD 11571
METROLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
A. Reagent 1 x 200 mL 1 x 500 mL
S. Standard 1 x 5 mL 1 x 5 mL  Detection limit: 0.2 mg/dL calcium = 0.05 mmol/L calcium.
 Linearity limit: 18 mg/dL calcium = 4.5 mmol/L calcium. For higher values dilute sample 1/2 with
COMPOSITION distilled water and repeat measurement.
A. Reagent. Arsenazo III 0.2 mmol/L, imidazole 75 mmol/L.  Repeatibility (within run):
DANGER: H360: May damage fertility or the unborn child. P201: Obtain special instructions
Mean calcium concentration CV n
before use. P202: Do not handle until all safety precautions have been read and understood.
P280: Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection. P308+P313: IF 9.6 mg/dL = 2.40 mmol/L 1.7 % 20
exposed or concerned: Get medical advice/attention. P405: Store locked up. 13.5 mg/dL = 3.38 mmol/L 1.2 % 20
S. Calcium/Magnesium Standard. Calcium 10 mg/dL (2.5 mmol/L), magnesium 2 mg/dL.  Reproducibility (run to run):
Aqueous primary standard.
Mean calcium concentration CV n
For further warnings and precautions, see the product safety data sheet (SDS).
9.6 mg/dL = 2.40 mmol/L 2.2 % 25
STORAGE 13.5 mg/dL = 3.38 mmol/L 2.8 % 25
Store at 2-8ºC.
 Sensitivity: 56 mAdL/mg = 224 mAL/mmol
Reagent and Standard are stable until the expiry date shown on the label when stored tightly
 Trueness: Results obtained with this reagent did not show systematic differences when
closed and if contaminations are prevented during their use.
compared with reference reagents (Note 3). Details of the comparison experiments are
Indications of deterioration: available on request.
 Reagent: Presence of particulate material, turbidity, absorbance of the blank over 0.550 at 650  Interferences: Bilirubin (< 20 mg/dL) does not interfere. Hemolysis (hemoglobin 2.5 g/L) and
nm. lipemia (10 g/L) interfere. Other drugs and substances may interfere3.
 Standard: Presence of particulate material, turbidity. These metrological characteristics have been obtained using an analyzer. Results may vary if a
different instrument or a manual procedure are used.
REAGENT PREPARATION
Reagent and Standard are provided ready to use. DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERISTICS
Calcium is the most prevalent cation found in the body, distributed in bone (99%), soft tissues and
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT extracellular fluid. Its concentration in plasma is regulated by parathyroid hormone, vitamin D and
 Analyzer, spectrophotometer or photometer able to read at 650  20 nm. calcitonin.
Calcium ion is important in the transmission of nerve impulses, in the maintenance of normal
SAMPLES muscle contractility, as a cofactor in certain enzyme reactions, and in the coagulation of the
Serum, heparinized plasma or urine collected by standard procedures (Note 1). blood.
Calcium in serum or plasma is stable for 10 days at 2-8ºC. Anticoagulants other than heparin Hypercalcemia can be due to vitamin D intoxication, enhanced renal retention, osteoporosis,
should not be used. sarcosidosis, thyrotoxicosis, hyperparathyroidsm, multiple mieloma, idiopathic hypercalcemia of
infancy, and carcinoma metastasic to bone2,4.
Collect a 24-hour urine specimen in a bottle containing 10 mL of 50 % (v/v) nitric acid. Stable for
10 days at 2-8ºC. Centrifuge or filter and dilute ½ with distilled water before testing. Elevated calcium concentration in urine is found in nephrolithiasis and metabolic acidosis 2,4.
Hypocalcemia may be caused by primary and secondary hypoparathyroidism,
PROCEDURE pseudohypoparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, malnutrition and intestinal malabsorption 2,4.
1. Bring the Reagent to room temperature. Clinical diagnosis should not be made on the findings of a single test result, but should integrate
2. Pipette into labelled test tubes: (Notes 2,3) both clinical and laboratory data.
Blank Standard Sample NOTES
Calcium Standard (S)  1. Some plasma sample recoveries may be higher than that expected with serum.
15µL 
Sample   15µL
Reagent (A) 1.0 mL 1.0 mL 1.0 mL
2. Contamination of glassware with calcium will affect the test. Use acid-washed glassware or
plastic tubes.
3. Mix thoroughly and let stand the tubes for 2 minutes at room temperature. 3. These reagents may be used in several automatic analysers. Instructions for many of them are
4. Read the absorbance (A) of the Standard and the Sample at 650 nm against the Blank. The available on request.
colour is stable for at least 1 hour. 4. Calibration with the provided aqueous standard may cause a matrix related bias, specially in
some analyzers. In these cases, it is recommended to calibrate using a serum based standard
CALCULATIONS (Biochemistry Calibrator, cod. 18011 and 18044).
The calcium concentration in the sample is calculated using the following general formula:
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A Sample
 C Standard  Sample dilution factor  C Sample 1. Michaylova V, Illkova P. Photometric determination of micro amounts of calcium with Arsenazo
A Standard III. Anal Chim Acta 1971; 53:194-198.
If the Calcium Standard provided has been used to calibrate (Note 4): 2. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, 4th ed. Burtis CA, Ashwood
ER, Bruns DE. WB Saunders Co, 2005.
Serum and plasma Urine 3. Young DS. Effects of drugs on clinical laboratory tests, 5th ed. AACC Press, 2000.
4. Friedman and Young. Effects of disease on clinical laboratory tests, 4th ed. AACC Press,
A Sample x 10 = mg/dL calcium x 20 = mg/dL calcium
2001.
A Standard x 2.5 = mmol/L calcium x 5 = mmol/L calcium

REFERENCE VALUES
Serum and plasma2: 8.6-10.3 mg/dL = 2.15-2.58 mmol/L
Urine2: 100-300 mg/24-h = 2.5-7.5 mmol/24-h
These ranges are given for orientation only; each laboratory should establish its own reference
ranges.

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