Requests for Vitamin D must state one of the following indications, as per MBS.
Testing may not be performed without valid clinical notes.
Vitamin D testing is available for a patient who:
- has signs or symptoms of osteoporosis or osteomalacia; or
- has increased alkaline phosphatase and otherwise normal liver function tests; or
- has hyperparathyroidism, hypo- or hypercalcaemia, or hypophosphataemia; or
- is suffering from malabsorption (for example, because the patient has cystic fibrosis, short bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease or untreated coeliac disease, or has had bariatric surgery); or
- has deeply pigmented skin, or chronic and severe lack of sun exposure for cultural, medical, occupational or residential reasons; or
- is taking medication known to decrease 25OH-D levels (for example, anticonvulsants); or
- has chronic renal failure or is a renal transplant recipient; or
- is less than 16 years of age and has signs or symptoms of rickets; or
- is an infant whose mother has established vitamin D deficiency; or
- is a exclusively breastfed baby and has at least one other risk factor mentioned in a paragraph in this item; or
- has a sibling who is less than 16 years of age and has vitamin D deficiency
Circulating levels of 25 OH Vitamin D are the best indicator of Vitamin D status.
Unit conversion: nmol/L divided by 2.5 = ng/ml
