Also Known As

CT, hCT, Human Calcitonin

The Purpose of a Calcitonin Test

Calcitonin may not be as well known as the other hormones produced by the thyroid gland—triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)—but it still plays a role in maintaining your overall health. Specifically, calcitonin helps mitigate bone loss and controls the level of calcium in your bloodstream. While you typically won’t experience major symptoms if your calcitonin levels are imbalanced, an irregularity can signal C-cell hyperplasia, multiple endocrine neoplasia (a disorder that causes thyroid tumors), or medullary thyroid cancer. That’s why you may want to order a calcitonin blood test, along with other thyroid tests such as Free T4, Free T3, and TSH.

What Does the Calcitonin Blood Test Measure?

This test determines the level of calcitonin hormones in your blood.

Who Should Take a Calcitonin Lab Test?

Doctors use calcitonin tests to monitor treatment for people with medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia. It can also be used as a screening test for people with a family history of these conditions. Testing may also be useful if you experience the following symptoms:

• A lump or swelling in the front of your neck
• Pain in the same area of the neck
• A change in your voice (e.g., hoarseness)
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• A persistent cough

Calcitonin Level Test Preparation

Calcitonin labs require an 8- to 12-hour fast before giving a blood sample. Learn more about fasting and other preparation tips that ensure the most accurate test results.

Calcitonin Lab Results

Normal reference ranges are 0.0 to 9.4 pg/mL for men and 0.0 to 5.0 pg/mL for women. If your results are above that range, your doctor may order more testing to make a diagnosis or, if you are being treated for a thyroid disorder or cancer, determine if your treatment is working.

Where Can I Get a Blood Test for Calcitonin Near Me?

Want to take control of your thyroid health? Personalabs offers more than 400 health tests you can order online, including a comprehensive collection of thyroid tests. By getting the blood tests you need, when you need them, you are more informed and empowered when it comes to making healthcare decisions.

Here’s how the process works:

Step 1: Purchase the calcitonin lab test or another test of your choice from our online store. (You may not even need a doctor’s authorization to buy the test, depending on where you live.) Each test comes with a lab order, which you’ll need to download and bring with you to your testing appointment.

Step 2: Find the closest lab near you to schedule your test. You have more than 4,000 locations across America to choose from because we partner with LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics, two of the leading lab companies in the nation.

Step 3: Go to the lab for your blood work.

Step 4: Review the results in your private portal, usually within 2 to 10 business days. (Need the results by a certain date? Contact us and we will reach out to your lab for you.)

Looking for a blood test for calcitonin or another health concern? Find what you need at Personalabs. Browse our selection today.