What should your anion gap level be?
The anion gap value is reported in units of milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). Normal results generally fall between 3 and 10 mEq/L. However, normal ranges may vary by lab. A high anion gap value means that your blood is more acidic than normal.
What does an anion gap of 0 mean?
Healthy subjects typically have a gap of 0 to slightly normal (< 10 mEq/L). A urine anion gap of more than 20 mEq/L is seen in metabolic acidosis when the kidneys are unable to excrete ammonia (such as in renal tubular acidosis).
Is an anion gap of 7 normal?
and a normal anion gap is approximately 10—16 mEq/L. An anion gap of 17 or higher represents an increased anion gap, and an anion gap of 9 or lower represents a decreased anion gap. Acid-base disturbances that are characterized by an increased, normal, or decreased anion gap have little mechanistically in common.
What does anion gap mean in blood work?
The anion gap blood test is used to show whether your blood has an imbalance of electrolytes or too much or not enough acid. Too much acid in the blood is called acidosis.
How do you treat high anion gap?
The most common alkalizing agent is sodium bicarbonate, but sodium and potassium citrate are alternative options. In the event of severe, recalcitrant acidosis, it may be appropriate to treat empirically with alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors (fomepizole or ethanol) and prepare the patient for emergent hemodialysis.
What does anion gap tell you?
What is it used for? The anion gap blood test is used to show whether your blood has an imbalance of electrolytes or too much or not enough acid. Too much acid in the blood is called acidosis. If your blood does not have enough acid, you may have a condition called alkalosis.
What medications can cause a low anion gap?
Drugs
- Bromide intoxication – bromide interferes with the calculation of the chloride ion concentration and thus, may cause a falsely low anion gap value.
- Lithium overdose – lithium is a commonly prescribed treatment for bipolar disorder.
Why would anion gap be elevated?
If your results show a high anion gap, you may have acidosis, which means higher than normal levels of acid in the blood. Acidosis may be a sign of dehydration, diarrhea, or too much exercise. It may also indicate a more serious condition such as kidney disease or diabetes.
What does anion gap blood test results show?
The anion gap blood test is used to show whether your blood has an imbalance of electrolytes or too much or not enough acid . Too much acid in the blood is called acidosis.
What does high anion gap mean on a blood test?
The anion gap value is reported in units of milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). Normal results generally fall between 3 and 10 mEq/L. However, normal ranges may vary by lab. A high anion gap value means that your blood is more acidic than normal. It may indicate that you have acidosis.
What are the reasons for high anion gap?
The most common causes of high anion gap metabolic acidosis are: ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis, renal failure, and toxic ingestions.
Why is an anion gap blood test conducted?
An anion gap test is also conducted as a routine after a condition has been diagnosed in order to monitor the progress of the treatment or the progression of the condition if it is untreated. There are many conditions that may warrant an anion gap blood test.