Ionized calcium in human milk determined with a calcium-selective electrode.

We measured the concentration of ionized calcium in human milk with a Radiometer ionized calcium analyzer at 37 degrees C. This instrument is designed to use simultaneous outputs from a pH electrode and a calcium ion-selective electrode to obtain the true ionized calcium in blood plasma. Because both the ionic strength and the pH of human milk differ significantly from that of plasma, we used a calibration curve that corrected for these variables. No other substances in milk interfered with the electrode response to Ca2+. The Ca2+ concentration of milk decreased and the pH increased as CO2 was lost to the atmosphere. Samples collected in glass capillaries, which minimized CO2 loss, contained 2.84 (SD 0.56) mmol of Ca2+ per liter at pH 6.98. We emphasize the importance of maintaining physiological CO2 concentrations when Ca2+ is being measured in milk.