This assay is used for diagnosing and monitoring hypomagnesaemia (magnesium deficiency) and hypermagnesaemia (magnesium excess). Hypomagnesaemia may be a cause of inappropriately low PTH levels to its role as a co-factor in the hormones synthesis.
The magnesium assay is not available on haemolysed samples. Samples contaminated with EDTA (from FBC bottles) will show falsely low levels. In plasma about 70 % of magnesium present in free form while the other 30 % is bound to proteins (especially albumin), citrates, phosphate, and other complex formers. Hence low levels can be seen in hypoalbuminaemia.
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