We know that a healthy adult human body contains approximately 60% water. Our body’s fluids contain electrolytes essential for maintaining the body’s fluid balance and balancing the pH level. In reality, electrolytes aid in regulating heart rhythm, muscular action, and neuron activity. An electrolyte serum test is conducted to check the levels of electrolytes.
Electrolytes are found in various biological fluids, including blood, sweat, and urine. They include:
- Sodium– Sodium helps the body regulate fluids and allows muscles and neurons to function correctly.
- Calcium– Calcium builds bones and regulates heart rhythm, transports nerve signals, and maintains muscle function.
- Phosphate– Phosphate is essential for transporting chemicals and molecules out of cells.
- Magnesium– Magnesium improves brain and muscular function while aiding cells in energy production from nutrients.
- Chloride– Chloride is essential for maintaining a fluid balance within and outside the cell structure.
- Bicarbonate– Bicarbonate helps maintain the pH equilibrium, preventing alkalosis and acidosis.
What exactly do electrolytes do?
Electrolytes help your cells conduct electrical charges, allowing your muscles to contract. Those exact electrical charges aid in chemical reactions, including hydration and fluid equilibrium within and outside cells. The fundamental idea of electrolytes is that certain chemical elements can naturally have a positive or negative electrical charge. When such elements dissolve in a liquid, the liquid can conduct electricity.
Salt water, for example, is an excellent conductor of electricity. Salt is made up of sodium (positively charged) and chlorine (negatively charged), and when they combine, their charges level out.
Dissolving salt in water causes the sodium and chlorine atoms to separate, reverting to positively and negatively charged states. Because the electrical charges of sodium and chlorine ions are opposing, electricity jumps between them rather than between water molecules. An average electrolyte level helps your body maintain balance. Your body transports chemical molecules into and out of cells via ions, which are atoms that carry an electrical charge, just as electricity does in salt water.
What is the Serum Electrolyte Test?
A serum electrolytes test is a basic blood test that determines the concentrations of various electrolytes in your blood. Electrolytes are minerals with an electric charge found in your body’s fluids, such as blood, urine, and sweat. The most common electrolytes detected in a serum electrolytes test are sodium, potassium, and chloride.
Why should a person get an electrolyte test?
An electrolyte test is helpful in various conditions because electrolytes support and maintain different functions. In addition to scheduling an electrolytes test as a routine screening test, a physician may recommend an electronic panel because:
- An electrolyte imbalance can cause difficulties in the liver and kidneys. The electrolyte panel monitors kidney and liver functioning. If a physician detects malnutrition or dehydration in a patient, they should also assess the nutritional status and hydration levels.
- An electrolyte test helps assess brain health since sodium is essential for a healthy brain. Calcium, potassium, and magnesium are all necessary electrolytes for optimal cardiac function. The test is appropriate for monitoring electrolyte levels in diabetic patients.
- An electrolyte blood test can help diagnose nonspecific symptoms like appetite loss, dizziness, or weariness. Physicians utilize the test to rule out particular endocrine, liver, and renal diseases.
- A serum electrolytes test can assess treatment efficacy for illnesses such as high blood pressure, heart failure, or renal disease. It may also be performed as part of a routine physical exam, especially for people with a history of electrolyte imbalances or taking medications that can impact electrolyte levels.
What should be expected in a serum electrolyte test?
A tiny needle draws blood from the individual’s vein for the electrolyte test. The test is not painful, but you may feel slightly sting as the technician inserts the needle.
No fasting is required before the electrolyte test unless your doctor advises additional testing, such as a fasting glucose test. Drink plenty of water for simple blood withdrawal. The test results will reveal electrolyte concentrations in mmol/L.
The following are normal electrolyte levels:
- Potassium (3.5-5.2)
- sodium (134-144)
- chloride (96-106)
- bicarbonate (20-29)
You should not be concerned if the findings are not within normal electrolyte levels, as various factors, such as medications and dehydration, might influence these readings. The significant difference between positively and negatively charged electrolytes may indicate kidney or lung problems. Your doctor will review the electrolyte test results, and if your medical history and clinical assessment indicate an electrolyte imbalance, they may prescribe additional tests.
When should I learn about the results of the test?
Your healthcare physician or staff can tell you when you can expect to get your test results.
When should I call my doctor?
If you don’t understand your test findings or the result is outside the reference range and have questions or concerns, contact your healthcare practitioner. You should also get your healthcare practitioner if you observe a sudden change in your symptoms following a serum electrolyte test.
Electrolytes are vital to your body’s functions, influencing everything from hydration to heart rate. They also aid doctors in diagnosing a wide range of medical illnesses and concerns. Understanding electrolytes and their various issues can help you care for yourself and avoid future health problems. Controlling your electrolyte levels may prevent them from interfering with your life and routine.
To learn more about the test or book an appointment, visit our website, agilusdiagnostics.com, or call us on the phone; our experts will happily answer all your queries and help you make the right choices.