Overview
For quantitative determination of Mg 2+ and evaluation of drug effects on magnesium metabolism. The assay uses OD500nm for signal readout. Compatible sample input includes Biological, food, and beverage. Typical stated assay timing is 10 min.
Key elements and design rationale
- Readout format: OD500nm supports plate-based signal acquisition and consistent comparison across matched samples.
- Sample compatibility: The stated sample scope includes Biological, food, and beverage, which is useful when aligning matrix type with calibration and control design.
- Analytical range context: The supplied specifications include a stated detection limit of 0.1 mg/dL (41 µM) for interpreting low-signal samples.
- Feature emphasis: Sensitive and accurate. Use as little as a 5 µL sample. Linear detection range 0.1 mg/dL (41 µM) to 3 mg/dL (1.2 mM) Mg 2+ in a 96-well plate assay.
Additional feature notes highlight Simple and high-throughput. The procedure involves the addition of two reagents and measuring OD500nm. Can be readily automated as a high-throughput assay for thousands of samples per day; Improved reagent stability and versatility. The optimized formulation has greatly enhanced the reagent and signal stability. Cuvet or 96-well plate assay. Available format information for this listing includes 250 Tests.
Biological background
This product is centered on measurement of magnesium within the matrices described for the assay. In practice, datasets from this type of format are typically interpreted by comparing relative signal, activity, or abundance across matched control and experimental groups rather than relying on a single value in isolation. Careful alignment of sample matrix, incubation window, and calibration strategy is important when comparing results across plates, operators, or study days.
More details
Magnesium (Mg) is one of the most abundant and essential minerals in mammals. Magnesium is involved in more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body and plays important roles in muscle and nerve functions, heart rhythm, immune system, and bone formation. Magnesium deficiency may lead to nausea, fatigue, muscle contractions, hypocalcemia, and hypokalemia. Simple, direct, and automation-ready procedures for measuring magnesium concentration in biological samples are becoming popular in Research and Drug Discovery. BioAssay Systems magnesium assay kit is designed to measure magnesium directly in biological samples without any pretreatment. A calmagite dye in the kit forms a colored complex specifically with magnesium. The intensity of the color, measured at 500 nm, is directly proportional to the magnesium concentration in the sample. The optimized formulation minimizes interference by potential substances.
Detection method
Colorimetric (OD 500 nm).
Detection limit and analytical sensitivity
Reported detection limit: 0.1 mg/dL (41 µM).
Procedures and timing
Stated procedure or timing information: 10 min.
Research relevance and current trends
- Plate-based quantification and side-by-side group comparison remain central use cases for this assay format.
- The product notes emphasize multi-sample throughput, making it relevant for screening-oriented and larger batch comparison studies.
- The description supports intervention-focused study designs in which researchers compare baseline and perturbed conditions.
Common research applications
- Quantify magnesium in biological, food, and beverage by OD500 nm readout.
- Compare treatment or phenotype groups using matched biological, food, and beverage handling.
- Monitor time-course or pre/post changes in biological, food, and beverage across study conditions.
Interpretation is usually strongest when signal changes are assessed alongside matrix-matched controls, replicate agreement, and the assay's stated analytical window.
Notes for experimental interpretation
- Matrix composition, background signal, and sample handling can influence apparent response; compare like-with-like whenever possible.
- Use appropriate blanks, controls, and replicate wells to distinguish biological differences from plate, reagent, or handling variability.
What are typical optical density readings of deionized water and the magnesium standard in this assay?
The OD reading will vary with the experimental conditions and the OD reader used. In our laboratory, the OD(500 nm) for distilled water is typically around 0.300, and after the addition of EDTA basically unchanged, for instance 0.296. For the magnesium standard, the values are typically around 0.450 and 0.295, respectively.
What is the variability across replicated well samples?
The intra-assay variability is typically below 5%.
Do you recommend me to dilute my samples for the Magnesium Assay Kit?
Whether you need to dilute your sample depends on the nature of the sample and the expected concentration of Mg. Normal Mg levels in blood are 1.7-2.3 mg/dL and fall within the linear detection range of 0.1 to 3 mg/dL – dilution is thus not necessary. On the other hand for urine samples, normal values are typically higher, around 7.2 -10.8 mg/dL, and a dilution of the sample is necessary.
For laboratories requiring additional technical capacity, we provide scientific support services including assay execution, method guidance, product sourcing, and customization to align the assay with specific experimental objectives. If you need assistance selecting the appropriate kit configuration, adapting the workflow to your application, or identifying related research services, please click Talk to a Scientist, email support@biohippo.com, or review our Research Services; a member of our scientific team will follow up with recommendations tailored to your study.
Atherogenic diet accelerates ectopic mineralization in a mouse model of pseudoxanthoma elasticum
Zhao, J.-Y., et al (2020). Atherogenic diet accelerates ectopic mineralization in a mouse model of pseudoxanthoma elasticum. International Journal of Dermatology and Venereology, 3(2), 91-96. Assay: Magnesium in Mouse Serum.
Evaluation of stress status using the stress map for guide dog candidates in the training stage using variations in the serum cortisol with nerve growth factor and magnesium ions
Ando, I., et al (2020). Evaluation of stress status using the stress map for guide dog candidates in the training stage using variations in the serum cortisol with nerve growth factor and magnesium ions. Veterinary and Animal Science, 10, 100129. Assay: Magnesium in Dog Serum.
Femtosecond laser-mediated anchoring of polymer layers on the surface of a biodegradable metal
Park, J., et al (2021). Femtosecond laser-mediated anchoring of polymer layers on the surface of a biodegradable metal. Journal of Magnesium and Alloys. Assay: Magnesium in PLGA substrates.
Magnesium supplementation improves diabetic mitochondrial and cardiac diastolic function
Liu, M., et al (2019). Magnesium supplementation improves diabetic mitochondrial and cardiac diastolic function. JCI Insight, 4(1). Assay: Magnesium in mouse plasma.
Magnesium links starvation-mediated antibiotic persistence to atp
Xu, T., Wang, X., Meng, L., Zhu, M., Wu, J., Xu, Y., Zhang, Y., & Zhang, W. (2020). Magnesium links starvation-mediated antibiotic persistence to atp. MSphere, 5(1). Assay: Magnesium in Staphylococcus aureus cells.
Dietary magnesium supplementation improves lifespan in a mouse model of progeria
Villa-Bellosta, R. (2020). Dietary magnesium supplementation improves lifespan in a mouse model of progeria. EMBO Molecular Medicine, 12(10), e12423. Assay: Magnesium in Mouse plasma.
Magnesium supplementation improves diabetic mitochondrial and cardiac diastolic function
Liu, M., Jeong, E. M., Liu, H., Xie, A., So, E. Y., Shi, G. & Dudley Jr, S. C. (2019). Magnesium supplementation improves diabetic mitochondrial and cardiac diastolic function. JCI insight, 4(1). Assay: Magnesium in mice blood.
Analysis of serum magnesium ions in dogs exposed to external stress: A pilot study
Ando, I., Karasawa, K., Yokota, S., Shioya, T., Matsuda, H., & Tanaka, A. (2017). Analysis of serum magnesium ions in dogs exposed to external stress: A pilot study. Open veterinary journal, 7(4), 367-374. Assay: Magnesium in dog serum.
Elevated dietary magnesium during pregnancy and postnatal life prevents ectopic mineralization in Enpp1asj mice, a model for generalized arterial calcification of infancy
Kingman, J., Uitto, J., & Li, Q. (2017). Elevated dietary magnesium during pregnancy and postnatal life prevents ectopic mineralization in Enpp1asj mice, a model for generalized arterial calcification of infancy. Oncotarget, 8(24), 38152. Assay: Magnesium in mice serum.
Comprehensive biometric, biochemical and histopathological assessment of nutrient deficiencies in gilthead sea bream fed semi-purified diets
Ballester-Lozano GF et al. (2015). Comprehensive biometric, biochemical and histopathological assessment of nutrient deficiencies in gilthead sea bream fed semi-purified diets. Br J Nutr. 114(5):713-26. Assay: magnesium in fish plasma.
Deletion of claudin-10 (Cldn10) in the thick ascending limb impairs paracellular sodium permeability and leads to hypermagnesemia and nephrocalcinosis
Breiderhoff, T et al (2012). Deletion of claudin-10 (Cldn10) in the thick ascending limb impairs paracellular sodium permeability and leads to hypermagnesemia and nephrocalcinosis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109(35): 14241-14246. Assay: Magnesium in mouse urine, serum.
Effects of gasoline engine emissions on health status of auto rickshaw drivers at DIR (L) Khyber Pukhtunkhwa
Ullah, S., Khan, A. A., Khan, M. A., & Ahmed, I. (2012). Effects of gasoline engine emissions on health status of auto rickshaw drivers at DIR (L) Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry 94(2): 411-422. Assay: Magnesium in human blood.
trpm7 regulation of in vivo cation homeostasis and kidney function involves stanniocalcin 1 and fgf23
Elizondo MR, et al (2010). trpm7 regulation of in vivo cation homeostasis and kidney function involves stanniocalcin 1 and fgf23. Endocrinology 151(12):5700-9. Assay: Magnesium in zebrafish blood.
Changes in intestinal bifidobacteria levels are associated with the inflammatory response in magnesium-deficient mice
Pachikian BD, et al (2010). Changes in intestinal bifidobacteria levels are associated with the inflammatory response in magnesium-deficient mice. J Nutr. 140(3):509-14. Assay: Magnesium in mice serum.
Elevated dietary magnesium prevents connective tissue mineralization in a mouse model of pseudoxanthoma elasticum (Abcc6(-/-))
LaRusso J, Li Q, Jiang Q, Uitto J (2009). Elevated dietary magnesium prevents connective tissue mineralization in a mouse model of pseudoxanthoma elasticum (Abcc6(-/-)). J Invest Dermatol 129:1388-1394. Assay: Magnesium in mouse serum, urine.
Increased Serum Magnesium and Calcium and their Regulation During Hibernation in the Indian Common Toad, Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1799)
Pratihar, S., & Kundu, J. K. (2009). Increased Serum Magnesium and Calcium and their Regulation During Hibernation in the Indian Common Toad, Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1799). South American Journal of Herpetology 4(1): 51-54. Assay: Magnesium in toad serum.
Stippler, M et al (2007) Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Magnesium in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Outcome. J Neurotrauma
Stippler, M et al (2007) Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Magnesium in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Outcome. J Neurotrauma. 24(8): 1347-1354. Assay: Magnesium in human cerbrospinal fluid.
Kim TW et al (2006) Rapid production of milligram quantities of proteins in a batch cell-free protein synthesis system.
Kim TW et al (2006) Rapid production of milligram quantities of proteins in a batch cell-free protein synthesis system. J Biotechnol 124(2):373-80. Assay: Magnesium in cell free system protein.
