Chloride test

A blood chloride test may be part of a regular physical examination or it may be used to help identify the cause of unexplained symptoms such as repeated vomiting, diarrhoea or breathing problems.

The test can be used to check whether there's an imbalance of chloride (a type of electrolyte) in the blood. Electrolytes are salts and minerals, such as sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate, which can conduct electrical impulses in the body.

If there's an electrolyte imbalance, further investigations can be carried out to establish what's causing it. For example, it may be caused by a health condition or use of a certain type of medication.

Regular electrolyte tests may be recommended to see how well treatment is working.

Read more about chloride tests at Lab Tests Online UK (external link).