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Magnesium Test
Magnesium Test
This test can help determine the amount of magnesium you have in your blood. Low levels cause a magnesium deficiency (hypomagnesemia) and is more common than high levels (hypermagnesemia). Read moreTest details
Sample type:
Blood
Preparation:
Fasting is not required for this test.
If you are taking vitamins, or a vitamin supplement, containing magnesium, you should consult your doctor to determine if you should stop taking them for at least one week before your sample is collected.
What
This test measures the level of magnesium in your blood.
Who
Anyone who wants to assess their levels of magnesium or is having symptoms that could be related to a magnesium imbalance. Must be 18+ years of age to purchase.
How
Blood
Schedule an appointment, then visit one of the Quest Diagnostics Patient Service Centers.
About the Test
This test can help determine the amount of magnesium you have in your blood. Low levels cause a magnesium deficiency (hypomagnesemia) and is more common than high levels (hypermagnesemia). Magnesium is critical to maintain proper muscle and brain function. It also helps turn nutrients into energy at the cellular level. Health problems that may cause a magnesium deficiency include malnutrition, alcoholism, and diabetes.
Electrolytes are necessary for basic cell function and help the body perform and maintain important processes. Magnesium is an electrolyte responsible for proper muscle, nerve, and heart function, and helps to control blood pressure and blood sugar in the body.
When electrolytes are imbalanced, normal bodily functions are disrupted and can cause life threatening complications. By testing your magnesium levels, you and your healthcare provider may be able to better understand the cause of your symptoms and identify next steps.
How it works
questhealth.com offers 100+ consumer-initiated Quest Diagnostics lab tests to empower you to have more control over your health journey. Choose from a variety of test types that best suit your needs.
FAQs
Electrolytes are electrically charged minerals (sometimes referred to as trace elements) that are responsible for many important functions and processes in your body.
Does Quest offer a test that includes other electrolytes that are commonly evaluated with magnesium?
Magnesium levels are often tested with other electrolytes, such as sodium, calcium, potassium, and chloride. If you are interested in having these other electrolytes tested, the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) is available for purchase.
You may be able to use your FSA or HSA funds to purchase lab tests at questhealth.com. Please review your FSA/HSA plan or check with a tax professional to confirm specific requirements for individual eligibility.
Our references
- Medline Plus. Magnesium Blood Test. Accessed July 10, 2023. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/magnesium-blood-test/
- Quest Diagnostics. Magnesium. Accessed July 10, 2023. https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/622/magnesium?p=r&q=magnesium&cc=PHP
- National Library of Medicine: Electrolytes - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
- National Institutes of Health. Magnesium Fact Sheet for Consumers. Accessed July 11, 2023. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium-healthprofessional/