Magnesium Blood Test | Magnesium Deficiency Test

Magnesium Test

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. Read more

Test 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.

Test type: In Person

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$39.00

+ $6.00 Physician Service Fee

Quantity

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

Where

Find a location near you

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.

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.

Magnesium is an essential mineral needed in our bodies in large amounts. Magnesium plays an important role in keeping your heart and muscles functioning normally, regulating blood sugar levels, maintaining blood pressure, and helping your body absorb calcium. Magnesium also helps keep bones strong and regulates the immune system. Every cell in your body needs magnesium to function properly.

If you don’t eat enough magnesium-rich foods, or if your body doesn’t store or absorb enough of it, you may have low levels. Too little magnesium may cause muscle spasms or cramps, fatigue, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, numbness, uncontrolled eye movements, or convulsions. A lack of magnesium for an extended period has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

Too much magnesium can lead to irregular heart rhythms, weak reflexes, shortness of breath and cardiac arrest.

Signs and symptoms of low magnesium include:

Weakness
Muscle cramps and/or twitching
Migraine headaches
Confusion

Signs and symptoms of high magnesium include:

Muscle weakness
Fatigue
Nausea and vomiting

If you experience these more severe symptoms, SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION:

Trouble breathing
Irregular heartbeat
Seizures (in severe cases)
Cardiac arrest (in severe cases)

You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase. Purchases not permitted in: AK, AZ, HI.

When your results are ready, Quest will send them to you in a clear, easy-to-read online report. You will have the option to discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost to you. Together, you can determine the next best steps for your care.

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Easy to buy & simple to schedule

After your purchase, schedule an appointment at a nearby Quest Diagnostics location and have your specimen sample collected by a trained healthcare professional.

Fast online results, with support

Access test results from your phone as soon as they’re available, with the option to discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost.

Your results are available on our free, secure patient portal that you can access on your smartphone, tablet, or desktop. You will receive an email notification when your results are ready. You can also share your results with your healthcare provider, family, or friends.

FAQs

What is an electrolyte?

Electrolytes are electrically charged minerals 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.

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/

Magnesium Test