Patient Education - Endocrine Encyclopedia
Endocrine Surgery Encyclopedia
 Definition:
This is a test that measures the amount of the hormone calcitonin in the blood.
How the test is performed:
Blood is drawn from a vein on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture
site is cleaned with antiseptic, and an elastic band is placed around the upper arm to apply
pressure and restrict blood flow through the vein. This causes veins below the band to fill
with blood.
A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or
a syringe. After the blood is drawn, the band is removed to restore circulation. Then, the
needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
For an infant or young child, the area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with
a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small glass tube), on
a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be applied
to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding.
How to prepare for the test:
There is no special preparation.
For infants and children:
The preparation you can provide for this test depends on your child's age and experience.
For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics:
- infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
- toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
- preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
- schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
- adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)
How the test will feel:
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel
only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
Why the test is performed:
The health care provider may suggest a calcitonin test when he/she suspects medullary thyroid
cancer. Calcitonin may also be elevated in other tumors such as insulinomas, VIPomas, and
lung cancer.
Calcitonin is a hormone produced in the C cells of the thyroid gland. Its role in humans
is unclear. In animals, calcitonin helps to regulate blood calcium by slowing down the amount
of calcium released from the bones. Calcitonin works in opposition to parathyroid hormone
(PTH) and 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D.
Normal Values:
A normal value is less than 10 pg/ml (picograms per milliliter).
Note: Normal ranges may differ by the laboratory of the health care provider; it is not
uncommon to see different normal values for males and females. Sometimes, health care providers
obtain a second (or even a third) calcitonin blood level after an intravenous (IV) infusion
of calcium, especially when the health care worker suspects medullary carcinoma of the thyroid.
This additional test would be necessary if the health care provider’s suspicion was
very high but the baseline calcitonin value was normal.
What abnormal results mean:
Greater-than-normal levels may indicate:
- medullary carcinoma of thyroid
- insulinoma
- VIPoma
- lung cancer
What the risks are:
The risks associated with having blood drawn are:
- bleeding
- fainting or feeling lightheaded
- hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
- infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
- multiple punctures to locate veins
Special considerations:
Calcitonin inhibits bone resorption and can be used as a medication to treat several bone
diseases and calcium problems, including osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and hypercalcemia
(high blood calcium).
Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body
to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Review Date: 2/27/2006
Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier
University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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