Vitamin D is a generic designation for a group of fat-soluble, structurally similar sterols, which act as hormones. In the presence of renal disease or hypercalcemia, testing of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (DHVD) might be needed to adequately assess vitamin D status. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25HDN) test (25HDN / 25-Hydroxyvitamin D2 and D3, Serum) in serum is otherwise the preferred initial test for assessing vitamin D status and most accurately reflects the body's vitamin D stores.

Vitamin D compounds in the body are exogenously derived by dietary means; from plants as 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 (ergocalciferol or calciferol) or from animal products as 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (cholecalciferol or calcidiol). Vitamin D may also be endogenously derived by conversion of 7-dihydrocholesterol to 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in the skin upon ultraviolet exposure.

As a second-order test in the assessment of vitamin D status, especially in patients with renal disease

Investigation of some patients with clinical evidence of vitamin D deficiency (eg, vitamin D-dependent rickets due to hereditary deficiency of renal 1-alpha hydroxylase or end-organ resistance to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D)

Differential diagnosis of hypercalcemia.