Phosphorus in Blood

Phosphorus in the blood is an indication of the condition of a person’s health in many ways. Phosphorus levels can indicate whether the kidneys are functioning properly, whether there are problems with the digestive system, whether there are problems with diet or absorption and metabolization of nutrients, and whether bones and muscles are unhealthy.

Phosphorus is a chemical element that exists naturally in many forms, although never in a “free state”. It is an important part of all known living organisms, and it is present in such basic structures as DNA, RNA, cell membranes, and so on. In fact, phosphorus helps to form the actual structure of DNA. In cells, energy is transported in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a phosphorus based substance. In humans, phosphorus also plays an important role in metabolizing calcium, and thus in the formation and growth of bones and teeth. In fact, almost all the phosphorus in our bodies – nearly 90 per cent of it – is in our bones and teeth. Most of the remaining phosphorus is in remainder in extracellular fluids and soft tissues in the body.

Testing the levels of phosphorus in the blood is done in a way similar to any other blood test. The required amount of blood is drawn, and is then analyzed to determine the amount of phosphorus that is present. You should receive your test results within three or four hours, or at the most, the next day. As with any other blood test, no real preparation is needed for a phosphorus blood test, but there are a few dos and don’ts. There are many drugs that can affect phosphorus levels in the blood, thus confusing the test results. Therefore, if you are on any medication for any reason, you should ask your doctor about what is to be done. You may be advised to temporarily stop your medication, or else the doctor can simply take into account the effect of your medication on the test results when analyzing them.

If your phosphorus levels are found to be too low or too high, further investigation will usually be necessary before coming to any conclusion. This will probably involve further blood tests. However, in some cases, the phosphorus test may itself be a follow up to some other test. This is often the case when high calcium levels have been detected. Phosphorus levels could also be tested simply as a way of monitoring an already discovered medical condition.