Electrolytes are essential minerals found in your blood, urine, and other bodily fluids that carry an electric charge. They are crucial for a myriad of bodily functions. Key electrolytes include sodium, potassium, calcium, bicarbonate, magnesium, chloride, and phosphate. Each plays a vital role: sodium helps control fluids in the body, affecting blood pressure; potassium is key for nerve and muscle function, including the heart; calcium is essential for bone health and plays a role in muscle and nerve function as well as blood clotting; magnesium is involved in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body, including muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation; chloride helps maintain a normal balance of body fluids and is essential for digestion; bicarbonate helps maintain the body's acid-base balance (pH); and phosphate is important for bone health, energy storage, and nerve function.

Testing electrolyte levels in the blood is important because it helps diagnose and monitor a variety of conditions. Abnormal electrolyte levels can be a sign of dehydration, kidney disease, heart problems, and other health issues. For instance, high sodium levels might indicate dehydration or a kidney problem, while low potassium could be a sign of a condition such as hypokalemia, which can affect heart rhythm. Regular electrolyte testing is particularly important for those with chronic illnesses, those taking certain medications (like diuretics or heart medications), and athletes who may be at risk of electrolyte imbalances due to excessive sweating. By monitoring these levels, healthcare providers can identify problems early on and intervene appropriately to maintain health and prevent more serious complications.

Biomarkers included in this panel:

Anion Gap

Serum Plasma

Your anion gap is inside the range shown here, which is 8 to 16 mEq/L. Published ranges differ from that band substantially — the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine works to 3 to 9 mEq/L, Mayo Clinic Laboratories publishes 7 to 15 for people

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Calcium, Ionized, Serum

Calcium is an important mineral found throughout the body. It is important for bone health, cell communication, blood clotting, muscle contraction, and nerve cell function. Ionized serum calcium is the biologically active form of calcium in the blood

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Magnesium

Serum Plasma

Along with calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and chloride, magnesium is one of the six essential minerals required by the human body in significant quantities. Involved in more than 300 enzyme reactions in the body, magnesium is necessary for b

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Osmolality

Serum Plasma

"Osmolality, Calc" or "Calculated Osmolality" on a blood panel refers to the serum osmolality — a measurement of the concentration of dissolved particles (primarily sodium, glucose, and urea/BUN) in the blood. It is called &

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Electrolytes

Biomarkers included in this panel:

Anion Gap

Calcium, Ionized, Serum

Magnesium

Osmolality

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