Chloride Blood Test: What It Is, Purpose, Procedure & Results (original) (raw)

What type of results do you get for a chloride blood test?

Blood test reports, including chloride blood test reports, usually provide the following information:

• The name of the blood test or what was measured in your blood.
• The number or measurement of your blood test result.
• The normal measurement range for that test.
• Information that indicates if your result is normal or abnormal or high or low.

What is a normal chloride blood test result?

A typical normal range for a chloride blood test for an adult is 96 to 106 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L) or 96 to 106 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). But laboratories may have different reference ranges for normal chloride levels. When you get your blood test results back, there will be information that indicates what that lab’s normal blood chloride range is. If you have any questions about your results, be sure to ask your healthcare provider.

What does a low chloride level mean?

If your results reveal that you have lower-than-normal levels of chloride in your blood, it may indicate that you have:

It’s important to remember that a low chloride result doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a medical condition. Certain situations and medications can also increase your chloride levels.

What does a high chloride level mean?

If your results reveal that you have higher-than-normal levels of chloride in your blood, it may indicate that you have:

• Dehydration.
• Kidney disease.
• Cushing’s syndrome.
• Metabolic acidosis.
• Respiratory alkalosis.

It’s important to remember that a high chloride result doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a medical condition. Certain situations and medications can also increase your chloride levels.

Should I be concerned if I have a low or high chloride blood test result?

If your chloride blood test results reveal that you have high or low levels of chloride, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a medical condition. Many factors can affect your chloride levels, including:

• Drinking excess fluids.
• Losing fluids due to vomiting or diarrhea.
• Certain medicines, like antacids.
• An error in the blood test collection.

Your healthcare provider will interpret your chloride result within the context of certain factors, like other test results and your medical history. If you have questions about your results, be sure to ask your healthcare provider for more information.

When should I know the results of my chloride blood test?

In most cases you should have your chloride blood test results within two business days.