Chloride - urine
Last updated: Wednesday, 14, April, 2004
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| Item | Process |
|---|---|
| Specimen | Random or 24 hour urine collection without preservative. |
| Method | Spectrophotometry, coulimetry or ISE. |
| Reference Interval | Dependent on intake, typically 100-250 mmol/24 hours. |
| Application | To define the site of chloride loss in metabolic alkalosis and other electrolyte disturbances when it is not obvious clinically. Monitoring compliance with a low salt diet. |
| Interpretation | Patients with a metabolic alkalosis and an associated urine chloride level of <10 mmol/L are usually chloride deficient from gut or sweat loss and may require replacement therapy. |
| Reference | Harrington JT and Cohen JJ. N Engl J Med 1975; 293(24): 1241-1243. |