Chlorine Cl | Laboratory research

General Information

Chlorine Cl | Laboratory research

Chloride (Cl) determination in blood is an electrolyte test that evaluates the body's water and acid-base balance. Abnormal values ​​may indicate dehydration, kidney disease, or acid-base imbalance.

Chlorine (Cl) Is the main anion of extracellular fluid, it is also found in other body fluids: gastric juice, pancreas and intestines, cecal secretion, sweat in cerebrospinal fluid. Chlorine is the major anion that balances the effects of cations, mainly sodium, on extracellular fluid. Chlorine plays an important role in maintaining the acid-base balance (between plasma and erythrocytes), osmotic balance (between blood and tissues), water balance, activates amylase, participates in the production of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice.

The main depot of chlorine is the skin, which can store 30-60% of it.

Under physiological conditions, changes in chlorine concentration are secondary to changes in other electrolytes. Its purpose is to maintain the electroneutrality of the environment: if the bicarbonate content increases, the chlorine content decreases; if the sodium level increases, the chlorine content also increases. Uncompensated hyperchloremia causes metabolic acidosis. Chlorides are excreted mainly in the urine (90%), as well as sweat and feces. Chlorine metabolism is regulated by adrenal cortex and thyroid hormones.

Research materialVenous blood