Chloride (cl) test

A test for chloride may be done to:

• Check your chloride level if you are having symptoms such as muscle twitching or spasms, breathing problems, weakness, or confusion.
• Find out whether you have kidney or adrenal gland problems.
• Help find the cause for high blood pH. A condition called metabolic alkalosis can be caused by a loss of acid from your body (for example, from a loss of electrolytes through prolonged vomiting or diarrhea). You may also have metabolic alkalosis if your body loses too much sodium or you eat too much baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).

Blood test

A health professional uses a needle to take a blood sample, usually from the arm.

Urine test

This test is usually done at home. You must collect all the urine you produce in a 24-hour period.

• In general, there's nothing you have to do before this test, unless your doctor tells you to.
• For 24-hour urine collection, your doctor or lab will usually give you a large container that holds about 1 gallon.

Normal

Each lab has a different range for what's normal. Your lab report should show the range that your lab uses for each test. The normal range is just a guide. Your doctor will also look at your results based on your age, health, and other factors. A value that isn't in the normal range may still be normal for you.

Abnormal

High chloride levels may be caused by:

• Dehydration, such as from diarrhea or vomiting.
• Eating a lot of salt.
• Kidney disease.
• An overactive parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism).

Low chloride levels may be caused by:

• Conditions that cause too much water to build up in the body, such as with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH).
• Addison's disease.
• A condition that raises the pH of the blood above the normal range (metabolic alkalosis).
• Heart failure.
• Ongoing vomiting.