Blood
Calcitonin
Also known as: CT, Serum Calcitonin
CONVERT & COMPARE
pg/mL
=
2.11
pmol/L
=
7.2
ng/L
Reference ranges by source
Published adult intervals: 6, from 3 named sources, shown in pg/mL.
SOURCE
SEX
AGE
RANGE
VISUAL
CITE
About Calcitonin
A calcitonin test measures the level of calcitonin in a sample of your blood. Calcitonin is a hormone that helps control the level of calcium in your blood. Calcitonin is made in your thyroid gland by cells called "C cells." Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck.
Normally, you have a small amount of calcitonin in your blood. Your health care provider may order a calcitonin test if you have symptoms of a thyroid condition or if such conditions run in your family.
Main source: MedlinePlus ↗
Useful for
Help diagnose C-cell hyperplasia and medullary thyroid cancer in people who have symptoms.
Find out if treatment for medullary thyroid cancer is working.
Check whether medullary thyroid cancer has returned after treatment.
Screen people who have a high risk of medullary thyroid cancer. The risk is high for people who have a family history of a rare genetic disorder called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2).
Main source: MedlinePlus ↗
Interpretation
The meaning of your calcitonin test results depends on the reason you were tested.
To help diagnose or screen for medullary thyroid cancer or C-cell hyperplasia: A normal calcitonin level may mean that you don't have either condition, but it doesn't rule them out. A high calcitonin level means that the C cells in your thyroid are making too much calcitonin. A low calcitonin level is not known to be a medical problem.
To monitor treatment for medullary thyroid cancer or to check whether cancer has come back after treatment: Calcitonin levels that decrease and stay low over time usually mean that your treatment is helping. A calcitonin level that decreases but is still higher than normal may mean that you still have some cancer tissue left in your body. A calcitonin level that increases over time usually means that your cancer has returned or spread to other parts of your body.
For general wellness information only. Talk to a clinician about your specific results.
Main source: MedlinePlus ↗
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Related biomarkers
More tests in the blood category.
Sources
Last updated 2026-05-02
This page presents source-specific reference data and sourced explanations. For general wellness information only. This is not medical advice. For diagnosis or treatment of any condition, talk to a qualified clinician.