A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

Chloride

Test Code
CL


Alias/See Also
Cl, Serum chloride, Serum Cl


Preferred Specimen
1.0 mL plasma (0.5 mL minimum)


Other Acceptable Specimens
NULL


Transport Container
PST (light green top). Red top and SST also acceptable


Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 1 week, Refrigerated: 1 week, Frozen: 1 year


Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Grossly hemolyzed specimens are unacceptable.


Reference Range


 

             Age  
Adult (>18 years): 98-107 mmol/L
Pediatric:  
0 – 6 days 97-108
7 – 30 days 97-108
1 – 5 months 97-108
6 – 12 months 97-106
13 – 24 months 97-107
> 2 years 98-107


Clinical Significance


 Chloride may be decreased in the following cases:Hypoventilation, Protracted Vomiting, Chronic Diarrhea, Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Lactic Acidosis, Adrenal Disease, and/or Renal Failure. Increased Chloride may occur in the following: Hyperventilation: Excess breathing results in the reduction of carbonic acid content of plasma and therefore a fall in bicarbonate ion concentration. There are many causes of excess ventilation: they include many diverse diseases, drugs which stimulate the respiratory center, anxiety, fear, and decreased oxygen tension or increased CO2 tension in the blood. Drugs: Large doses of ammonium or potassium chloride may produce hyperchloremia. Dehydration: A decrease in plasma water will necessarily result in an increase in the chloride concentration.
 






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.