Urine Chloride

Test Code

URCL

CPT Codes
82436

Includes

Random Specimen includes Urine Chloride. Timed Specimen includes Urine Volume, Hours Collected, Urine Chloride and Urine Chloride/Total Volume Ratio.

Preferred Specimen

Random or timed urine specimen

Minimum Volume

1 mL

Instructions

Collect random specimen or timed specimen per orders. For timed specimen, record start and stop time of collection or number of hours. To transfer specimen from large container to smaller container for transport, measure volume first and record on specimen container, along with time. Timed specimens are typically collected for 24 hours, but can be collected for other increments, for example, 4 hours or 12 hours.

This test is for Chloride measurement on Urine. For Chloride measurement on Plasma or Serum, order CL. For Chloride measurement on Body Fluids other than CSF, order MISCL. For Chloride measurement on CSF, order CSFCL.

Transport Container

24-hour container or sterile urine cup

Transport Temperature

Refrigeration

Specimen Stability

3 days

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Quantity Not Sufficient

Methodology
Potentiometric

Setup Schedule

Monday - Sunday, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm upon receipt

Report Available

Upon completion of analysis

Reference Range

Urine Total Volume: 800 - 1800 mL/24 hours
Urine Chloride/Total Volume: 100 - 250 mmol/24 hours

Clinical Significance

Since urine is the primary mode of elimination of ingested chloride, urinary chloride excretion during steady state conditions will reflect ingested chloride, which predominantly is in the form of sodium chloride (NaCl). However, under certain clinical conditions, the renal excretion of chloride may not reflect intake. For instance, during states of extracellular volume depletion, urine chloride (and sodium) excretion is reduced.

Urine sodium and chloride excretion are similar and, under steady state conditions, both the urinary sodium and chloride excretion reflect the intake of sodium chloride (NaCl). During states of extracellular volume depletion, low values indicate appropriate renal reabsorption of these ions, whereas elevated values indicate inappropriate excretion (renal wasting). Urinary sodium and chloride excretion may be dissociated during metabolic alkalosis with volume depletion where urine sodium excretion may be high (due to renal excretion of NaHCO3) while urine chloride excretion remains appropriately low.

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.