Whole blood ionized magnesium in the healthy neonate.

Abstract
We aimed to determine the normal range of ionized magnesium (IMg2+) concentration at birth and 24 hours of life in the healthy, term (37 to 41 weeks old) neonate. Cord blood was obtained from the umbilical vein of 30 patients. In addition, blood was obtained from 32 infants at 24 hours of life. Whole blood was analyzed to determine IMg2+ concentration, ionized calcium concentration, and pH. The normal range of IMg2+ concentration (mean +/− 2 SD) was found to be 0.40 to 0.56 mmol/L (0.97 to 1.36 mg/dL) at both birth and 24 hours of life. The normal range of IMg2+ concentration (mean +/− 2 SD) in the healthy neonate at birth and 24 hours of life is 0.40 to 0.56 mmol/L (0.97 to 1.36 mg/dL). This range can serve as a reference value for future studies regarding the clinical usefulness of IMg2+ concentration determination in neonatal disease states.