Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It MeasuresWho Needs the Test?Preparing for the TestThe ProcedureRisksReading the ResultsAfter the TestLow ChlorideHigh ChlorideWhen to Be Concerned
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Measures
Who Needs the Test?
Preparing for the Test
The Procedure
Risks
Reading the Results
After the Test
Low Chloride
High Chloride
When to Be Concerned
A chloride blood test, or serum chloride test, is used to measure the level of chloride in your blood. Chloride is anelectrolyte, which is a mineral that carries an electrical charge when dissolved in water.
Chloride supports the balance of body fluids inside and outside your cells. It also strengthens proper blood volume,blood pressure, and thepH balance(acid-base balance) of your body fluids.
Factors such asvomiting,dehydration, or medical issues like kidney disease can affect chloride levels. Chloride levels that are too low or too high can make you feel ill. A chloride blood test can help your healthcare provider find the cause of these symptoms.
This article describes chloride blood test uses, techniques, and results. It includes everything you need to know about this test.
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What Is a Chloride Blood Test Used For?
A chloride blood test checks your chloride level. It is typically performed as part of a general health evaluation. A chloride blood test can also help diagnose certain medical conditions like kidney or adrenal gland problems that interfere with the normal absorption or removal of chloride from your body.
When you are healthy, your body absorbs most of the sodium chloride, or table salt, you consume. Your intestines absorb chloride when you digest your food. Any excess chloride is removed through your urine. A medical problem can affect this process, making your chloride high or low.
Chloride works jointly with other electrolytes, such aspotassium,sodium, andcalcium. As a result, a chloride blood test is often ordered as part of an electrolyte panel to identify other types ofelectrolyte imbalancesin addition to chloride. It can also be done with otherblood tests, like a basic orcomprehensive metabolic panel.
Who Needs a Chloride Blood Test?
You may need a chloride blood test if you have signs of an imbalance in your body’s fluid level or acid-base balance. This may be linked to conditions that cause sodium losses or excess chloride levels.
Symptoms of these problems can include the following:
How to Prepare for a Chloride Blood Test
Generally, no special preparation is needed for a chloride blood test unless your healthcare provider instructs you to do otherwise. It is important that you advise your healthcare provider about any medications that you are taking. Do not stop or change your medications before the test unless your healthcare provider advises it.
Depending on your symptoms, your healthcare provider may order aurinalysis(urine test) or another test performed at the same time as a chloride blood test. If these tests require fasting, it will not affect the results of your chloride blood test.
Blood for a chloride blood test is collected in a medical setting such as your healthcare provider’s office or a laboratory. Depending on where your blood sample is taken, a physician, nurse, or phlebotomist (an allied medical professional trained in taking blood samples for lab tests) may draw your blood sample.
The Chloride Blood Test Procedure
The procedure for a chloride blood test usually takes a few minutes. During the test, you remain seated.
The blood draw typically involves the following procedure:
You may feel a slight sting or pressure when the needle is inserted or removed. Some people feel nothing at all.
A chloride blood test does not involve any major health risks for most people. However, any test that involves the extraction of blood using a needle can lead to the following problems:
Your test results may vary depending on age, gender, health history, and other personal characteristics. Normal chloride levels typically include the following ranges:
What Happens After a Chloride Blood Test?
After a chloride blood test, your blood sample is sent to a medical laboratory. Your results are usually available within one or two days.
You can return to normal activities immediately after a chloride blood test unless you experience side effects like dizziness. If this occurs, you may have to sit calmly and have something to eat or drink before you leave the medical office or laboratory.
What Does a Low Chloride Level Mean?
Low chloride in blood, a condition known as hypochloremia, may be caused y one of the following conditions:
What Does High Chloride in Blood Mean?
When to Be Concerned About High or Low Results
High or low results from a chloride blood test that are outside normal levels do not always indicate a medical problem that needs treatment. The following factors can impact your chloride levels:
Your healthcare provider is the best source of information for determining whether the results of your chloride blood test are a cause for concern. They use the results of your chloride blood test to determine whether your levels are within the normal range for your age and condition.
If you have high chloride levels or low chloride levels and your results indicate an underlying medical problem, you will be referred for further testing and confirmation of a diagnosis.
Summary
A chloride blood test measures the level of chloride in your blood. Normal chloride levels help maintain the proper balance of body fluids inside and outside your cells.
Results of a chloride blood test that show levels outside normal ranges are not always a cause for concern. While too high or too low levels can occur with certain health problems, external factors like diet and liquid consumption can also affect them.
Your healthcare provider can determine what your results mean and whether you need more testing or treatment.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Chloride blood test.Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia Doctors.Chloride (Cl) test.Harvard T.H. Chan.Chloride.PeaceHealth.Chloride (Cl) test.University of Rochester Medical Center.Chloride.Mount Sinai.Chloride test - blood.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Chloride blood test.Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia Doctors.Chloride (Cl) test.Harvard T.H. Chan.Chloride.PeaceHealth.Chloride (Cl) test.University of Rochester Medical Center.Chloride.Mount Sinai.Chloride test - blood.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Chloride blood test.Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia Doctors.Chloride (Cl) test.Harvard T.H. Chan.Chloride.PeaceHealth.Chloride (Cl) test.University of Rochester Medical Center.Chloride.Mount Sinai.Chloride test - blood.
MedlinePlus.Chloride blood test.
Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia Doctors.Chloride (Cl) test.
Harvard T.H. Chan.Chloride.
PeaceHealth.Chloride (Cl) test.
University of Rochester Medical Center.Chloride.
Mount Sinai.Chloride test - blood.
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