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Chloride
Test CodeCL
Alias/See Also
Epic: LAB59
Preferred Specimen
Specimen Type: Serum
Collection Container: Serum gel
Specimen Volume: 3 mL
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Instructions
Centrifuge and separate cells after clot formation and within 4 hours of collection
Transport Container
Plastic vial
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 7 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 1 year
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Unlabeled, mislabeled, wrong tube type, QNS, Hemolysis index >400, gross lipemia.
Methodology
Indirect Ion-Selective Electrode (diluted)
(ICT = Integrated Chip Technology)
Setup Schedule
Daily
Report Available
Same day
Reference Range
0 - 30 days: 98 - 113 mEg/L
>30 days - 150 years: 100 - 111 mEg/L
>30 days - 150 years: 100 - 111 mEg/L
Clinical Significance
Chloride is the major extracellular anion. The majority of ingested chloride is absorbed, and the excess is excreted along with other ions into the urine. Low levels of Cl- are observed in prolonged vomiting accompanied by the loss of hydrochloric acid (HCl), in some cases of metabolic acidosis in which there is an increased accumulation of organic anions, in critical cases of Addison’s disease, and in kidney disease resulting in loss of salt. Elevated levels of Cl- are observed in metabolic acidosis associated with prolonged diarrhea and with loss of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), and in the case of renal tubular diseases in which there is a decreased excretion of hydrogen ion (H+), which causes in turn a decrease in the reabsorption of bicarbonate ion (HCO3-). Elevated levels of serum Cl- are also implicated in certain cases of hyperparathyroidism.
Performing Laboratory
Inova Laboratories
2832 Juniper Street
Fairfax, VA 22031
Last Updated: April 11, 2023
Last Review: N. Wolford, March 6, 2023