Lab test · Nephrology
Serum Chloride
Salt & water balance
- Blood sample
- No fasting
- Report within 24 hours
- Home collection
What this test is for
Salt & water balance
This test measures chloride in your blood. Chloride is an electrolyte, a mineral salt that carries an electrical charge, and it works closely with sodium, potassium and bicarbonate to keep the right amount of fluid in the body and the acid-base balance of the blood steady. It is usually checked as part of an electrolyte panel, and your doctor reads it alongside those other results.
Why a doctor may order it
- To look for dehydration after vomiting, diarrhoea or heavy sweating
- As part of an electrolyte panel when someone is weak, confused or very unwell
- To help understand an acid-base imbalance, for example in kidney or breathing problems
- To monitor people taking water tablets (diuretics) or receiving drip fluids
How to prepare
Fasting: Not needed.
Chloride needs no special preparation, so eat and drink as you normally would. Carry on with your regular medicines unless your doctor advises otherwise, but let your doctor know if you take water tablets (diuretics), as these can change electrolyte levels.
At home
- Sample
- Blood sample
- How it works
- A trained collector comes to your home at your chosen time and draws a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm. It usually takes just a few minutes, and the sealed tube is labelled and sent to the laboratory.
- Report
- Within 24 hours of collection.
What the results can mean
Your report shows your chloride level next to the laboratory's reference range. A high level can go with dehydration or some kidney and acid-base problems, while a low level can follow prolonged vomiting, some medicines or conditions that upset fluid balance. Chloride usually moves in the same direction as sodium, so it is rarely read on its own. Your doctor will interpret it together with your other electrolytes and your symptoms.
What's included
One test: Serum Chloride, from one blood sample.
Related tests
- Serum ElectrolytesThis test measures sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate in your blood.
- Serum Sodium (Na)Sodium (salt) level৳190
- Serum Potassium (K)Potassium is a mineral that the heart, muscles and nerves need to work properly.
- Kidney Function Test (RFT)A kidney function test, also called a renal function test (RFT), is a group of blood tests that show how well your kidneys are filtering waste from the blood.
- Cystatin CKidney filtering rate৳2,500
- Urine Protein-Creatinine Ratio (PCR)Protein loss in urine, kidneys৳500
Questions people ask
What is chloride in a blood test?
Chloride is one of the body's main electrolytes. It helps control fluid balance and the acid-base balance of the blood, working together with sodium, potassium and bicarbonate.
What does low chloride mean?
Low chloride is often linked to losing fluid through repeated vomiting, or to some water tablets. It can also occur when there is too much water in the body compared with salt. Your doctor will look for the cause alongside your other results.
Is chloride usually tested on its own?
Rarely. It is normally measured with sodium, potassium and bicarbonate in an electrolyte panel, because the values make most sense when read together.
How much does a Chloride test cost in Dhaka?
With Mukti Health the price is ৳150, and the sample is collected at your home in Dhaka. You see the price again before you confirm the booking in the Mukti Health app.
Can I do the Chloride test at home in Dhaka?
Yes. Book it in the Mukti Health app and a trained sample collector comes to your home in Dhaka to take the blood sample. You do not need to go to a laboratory.
How long does the Chloride report take?
The report is usually ready within 24 hours of the sample being collected.