Editing Hyperphosphatemia (section)

==Diagnosis==
The diagnosis of hyperphosphatemia is made through measuring the concentration of phosphate in the blood. A phosphate concentration greater than 1.46&nbsp;mmol/L (4.5&nbsp;mg/dL) is indicative of hyperphosphatemia, though further tests may be needed to identify the underlying cause of the elevated phosphate levels.<ref name="Merck Manual Hyperphos">{{cite web|title=Hyperphosphatemia - Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders - Merck Manuals Professional Edition|url=http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/endocrine-and-metabolic-disorders/electrolyte-disorders/hyperphosphatemia|website=Merck Manuals Professional Edition|publisher=Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.|access-date=23 October 2017}}</ref> It is considered significant when levels are greater than 1.6&nbsp;mmol/L (5&nbsp;mg/dL).<ref name=Ron2008/>

===Units===
Phosphates in blood exist in a [[chemical equilibrium]] of hydrogen phosphate (HPO<sub>4</sub><sup>2–</sup>) and dihydrogen phosphate (H<sub>2</sub>PO<sub>4</sub><sup>–</sup>), which have different [[mass]]es. Phosphate (PO<sub>4</sub><sup>3–</sup>) and [[phosphoric acid]] (H<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub>) are not present in significant amounts. Thus [[millimoles]] per liter (mmol/L) are often used to denote the phosphate concententration. If milligrams per decililiter (mg/dL) is used, it often denotes the ''mass of phosphorus'' bound to phosphates, but not the mass of some individual phosphate.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Nephrology secrets|vauthors=Lerma EV|year=2019|isbn=9780323478717|edition=4th|pages=532–533|publisher=Elsevier |display-authors=etal}}</ref>