Related Subjects:
|Ferritin
|CEA
|ESR
|CRP
|ALP
|LDH
|HbA1c
|Alpha Fetoprotein
|Anti-Hu ab
|Biochemical Lab values
โ ๏ธ Do NOT request 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol) to assess vitamin D status.
The correct test for deficiency, rickets, or osteomalacia is 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
๐ก 1,25-(OH)โ D can be normal or even elevated in deficiency due to secondary hyperparathyroidism.
๐ About
- 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH D): Main circulating form, long half-life (~2โ3 weeks), best indicator of overall vitamin D stores.
- 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-(OH)โ D, calcitriol): Active form, short half-life (hours), tightly regulated by PTH, calcium, phosphate, and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23).
- Levels of 1,25-(OH)โ D do not reflect vitamin D reserves. They may be normal or raised in deficiency due to secondary hyperparathyroidism.
- Extra-renal production of 1,25-(OH)โ D can occur in sarcoidosis, TB, lymphoma, and granulomatous diseases โ can cause hypercalcaemia.
๐ฏ Clinical Use of Each Test
- 25-OH Vitamin D: Test of choice for suspected deficiency, osteomalacia, rickets, falls, osteoporosis, malabsorption, chronic illness.
- 1,25-(OH)โ Vitamin D:
- Investigation of unexplained hypercalcaemia (esp. granulomatous disease or lymphoma).
- Evaluation of rare inherited disorders (e.g. 1-ฮฑ hydroxylase deficiency, vitamin Dโresistant rickets).
- Assessment in advanced chronic kidney disease (where 1-ฮฑ hydroxylation is impaired).
๐งพ Sample Requirements
- 5 mL venous blood in gold-top serum separator tube (or rust-top in the Acute Unit).
๐ Summary
25-OH Vitamin D = correct test for deficiency, osteomalacia, rickets.
1,25-(OH)โ Vitamin D = only useful in specific scenarios (renal failure, granulomatous disease, rare inherited rickets).
๐ก Ordering the wrong test is a common source of wasted investigations and diagnostic delay.