Use of Random Urine Samples to Estimate Total Urinary Calcium and Phosphate Excretion

Calcium-to-creatinine and phosphate-to-creatinine ratios in random single-voided urine specimens were compared with 24hour calcium and phosphate excretions, respectively, in 67 subjects who were selected prospectively to represent a wide range of renal and parathyroid function as well as urinary calcium and phosphate loss. Simple linear regression analysis revealed significant correlation between the spot urine calcium-to-creatinine ratio and 24-hour total calcium excretion and between the spot urine phosphate-to-creatinine ratio and 24-hour phosphate excretion. Calculating these simple ratios permits easy, rapid, correct, and inexpensive estimation of the daily urinary calcium and phosphate excretion. ( Arch Intern Med . 1991;151:1587-1588)