Chloride (Cl): Why It Is Done
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Why It Is Done
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).
| Last updated: | April 17, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Brian D. O'Brien, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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