To book, call 8872524007.
What the Electrolytes test checks
- Sodium mainly controls how much water stays in and around your cells. A sodium test is the key check for confusion, drowsiness or fits linked to fluid balance.
- Potassium keeps muscles and the heart working normally. A potassium test is used whenever heart rhythm or kidney function is in question.
- Chloride usually moves with sodium and helps the doctor judge acid-base balance.
Some labs add bicarbonate. All are reported in mmol/L, which for these salts is the same number as mEq/L.
Why your doctor may order it
- Vomiting, diarrhoea or heat exhaustion, common in Punjab summers
- Weakness, cramps, confusion or an irregular heartbeat
- Monitoring water tablets (diuretics), some BP medicines that can raise potassium, or long-term laxatives
- Kidney disease, heart failure or liver disease
- Older people who are eating or drinking poorly
- As part of a KFT test
How to prepare
No fasting is needed. Drink your normal amount of water and keep taking your medicines. Bring a list of them, because so many common tablets affect sodium and potassium.
On the day, relax your hand during the draw. Repeated fist clenching while the tourniquet is on can falsely raise potassium.
Sample type and report time
Blood goes into a serum tube. Potassium is fragile in the tube: if red cells burst (haemolysis) or the sample stands too long before it's spun, potassium leaks out of cells and the result reads falsely high. That's why the time between collection and testing matters.
Reports are usually ready the same day if the sample reaches us by about 11 am. If you're searching for an electrolytes test near me for an elderly relative, ask about home sample collection.
Understanding your results
Typical adult ranges are roughly:
- Sodium: 135 to 145 mmol/L
- Potassium: 3.5 to 5.1 mmol/L
- Chloride: 98 to 107 mmol/L
Low sodium can be associated with vomiting, diarrhoea, some water tablets, heart or liver failure and drinking large amounts of water. High sodium usually reflects dehydration. Low potassium is often linked to vomiting, diarrhoea or diuretics. High potassium can come from reduced kidney function or some medicines, but a haemolysed sample is a common false cause, and the lab may ask for a repeat.
Doctors read electrolytes with serum creatinine and the blood urea test. The range printed on your report is the one that applies; ranges vary by lab and method. Your doctor reads the result alongside your symptoms and other tests. A very abnormal potassium can need same-day medical review.
FAQ
Do I need to fast for an electrolytes test?
No. Eat and drink normally unless your doctor has asked for other fasting tests at the same time.
Why was my potassium high and the lab asked for a repeat?
A burst or delayed sample can falsely raise potassium. A repeat on a fresh sample confirms whether it's real.
Can drinking ORS change my result?
Yes, rehydration salts can shift sodium and potassium, which is often the point. Tell us if you've been taking ORS.
Is a sodium test the same as a salt test?
Pretty much. It measures sodium, the main part of table salt, in your blood, not how much salt you eat.
Book at Alpha Laboratory
Call 8872524007 to book an electrolytes test, or WhatsApp us. Our hours and directions are on the contact page.