Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood
- Fasting: No special preparation required.
- Turnaround: 1-2 business days. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.
What This Test Measures
The Magnesium Serum Test measures the amount of magnesium in your blood (serum). Magnesium is a mineral the body needs to move potassium and sodium into and out of cells. This test reports magnesium only, and it may also be listed as MAG or Mg.
Your result shows the magnesium level circulating in your blood at the time of the draw. It does not directly measure dietary intake, body stores, or total nutritional status. A healthcare provider considers your result alongside your symptoms and medical history.
Benefits
- Measures your blood magnesium level with one simple test.
- May help your provider look into nerve and muscle symptoms.
- Helps evaluate symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, or muscle weakness.
- May help evaluate low potassium or calcium that is not improving with treatment.
- Helps look for magnesium changes linked to medicines, including diuretics.
- Helps measure magnesium levels when magnesium is given for medical treatment.
Who Is This Test For?
- People with nerve or muscle symptoms, such as irritability, twitches, or weakness.
- People with symptoms such as low blood pressure, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, or slurred speech.
- People with trouble breathing or heart problems, especially with kidney disease.
- People whose low potassium or calcium level is not improving with treatment.
- People taking medicines, including diuretics, that may change magnesium levels.
- People with heart problems, or those receiving magnesium as medical treatment.
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. What is the purpose of this test?
This test measures magnesium in your blood (serum). It may help a healthcare provider look for the cause of nerve, muscle, heart, or breathing concerns, check for medicine-related changes, and follow magnesium levels during medical treatment. It reports a circulating magnesium level only and cannot diagnose a condition on its own.
2. Who should consider this test, and when?
Consider this test if you have nerve or muscle symptoms, such as irritability, twitches, or weakness, or symptoms like low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, or slurred speech. It may also be appropriate if you have trouble breathing or heart problems, especially with kidney disease, or if a low potassium or calcium level isn't improving with treatment. People taking medicines that may affect magnesium levels, such as diuretics, or those receiving magnesium as medical treatment, may also benefit from checking their levels. This test does not replace a medical evaluation.
3. How does this test differ from other nutritional tests?
This test measures magnesium only, and does not measure other minerals, vitamins, or nutrients. Results from other specimen types, such as urine, are not interchangeable with a serum result.
4. Do I need to fast before this test?
No special preparation is required.
5. How quickly will I get results?
1-2 business days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
6. How do I interpret the results?
The meaning of your magnesium result depends on your clinical context. Your healthcare provider may consider your symptoms, medical history, diet, supplements, medications, and other laboratory results. One low or high result does not always confirm a deficiency or excess, and one normal result does not rule out a concern. Please review your result with a qualified healthcare provider.
Disclaimer: Reference ranges may vary by laboratory. Listed ranges are general guidelines and may differ from those used by the performing lab. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.
7. What should I do if my results are abnormal?
Share your results with a qualified healthcare provider, who can review them in the context of your symptoms and health history and decide whether additional evaluation is needed. Please do not make changes to your supplements, medications, or diet based on this result alone.
8. How often should I get tested?
Testing frequency depends on why you are being tested. Your healthcare provider can tell you whether a single test is enough or whether follow-up testing makes sense for your situation. Test as directed by your healthcare provider.
Pre-Test preparation
No special preparation required.
