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 24-hour 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.