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What is a Chloride Test?
Chloride is one of the salts present in our body. It is called an electrolyte since the body uses chloride to maintain the level of fluids in and around the cells to maintain an equilibrium. The role of chloride is major in the maintenance of blood volume, blood pressure, and pH of our body fluids. The presence of chloride is maintained by the intake of sodium chloride (also known as table salt) in daily food. While the intestine uses ingested chloride by absorption, the excess chloride leaves the blood via urine. The amount of chloride can be in excess, or it can be less than what is needed by the body to maintain the fluid levels in the cells.
Other names: Cl test, serum chloride test
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Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the Chloride Test used for?
The excess chloride in our body gets excreted through urine. Thus, a chloride test can detect the amount of chloride leaving our body. The chloride test is taken when your doctor suspects you of suffering from conditions like kidney failure, hyperchloremia, problems related to nutrition, high blood pressure, liver disease, or heart disease.
Understanding the test results of the Chloride Test.
The chloride test results give the amount of chloride in our body. The normal level of chloride in the human body is 96-106 millimole/L or mEq/L. A higher level could be due to non-maintenance of electrolyte levels, which leads to diarrhoea, acidosis, or dehydration. While lower levels may indicate low salt intake, alkalosis, or Addison's disease.
Why do I need a Chloride Test?
When you have severe dehydration, vomiting, or diarrhoea, it is better to check the levels of chloride in your body. Chloride levels can provide an early sign of underlying health issues. The test may also help to eliminate or diagnose conditions, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia II and primary hyperparathyroidism.
What happens during a Chloride Test? Are there any side effects of taking the test?
During the test, the lab technician will inject a sterile needle and take a sample of blood from a vein in your arm, or you can give a urine sample. The sample taken will be analysed in a laboratory and the results will be given. You can go back to work after giving the sample. There are no side effects of the chloride test. One may feel mild pain in the place of injection.
What is the limit test for Chloride?
The limit test for chloride measures the level of impurity (other salts like potassium, calcium) associated with chloride in your blood. Usually, the limit of chloride is between 96-106 mEq/L or millimole/L. If your level is higher, the condition is called hyperchloremia; and if it is lower, it is called hypochloremia.
What is a normal Chloride Test?
A normal chloride level in the body is between 96-106 millimole/L or mEq/L. However, your test results may vary slightly with the analysing lab and its standards. When you obtain the results, the normal range will be mentioned in the report. If your level falls within the above mentioned value, it is called a normal chloride level.
Can drinking too much water cause low chloride levels?
Yes. Drinking too much water during endurance exercises like marathons can affect the chloride levels. This reduces the chloride level in blood by diluting it and makes it difficult for the kidneys to excrete excess water since the equilibrium is impacted.
What are the symptoms of low chloride?
Low chloride levels in the body can be identified by the following conditions:
- High dehydration through vomiting or diarrhoea
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Difficulty while breathing
- Low/high blood pressure
Is fasting required before the test?
Yes. You have to fast for several hours before the test. Other than that, there is no special preparation required for the test. You can give the sample for analysis and leave for work after the test.
What can make your chloride levels high?
High levels of chloride can be achieved by intake of more table salt in the diet, having a more balanced diet, avoiding alcohol, aspirin, caffeine, drinking 2-3 litres of water every day, and drinking electrolyte solution.
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