Included with every panel
Baseline labs come free with any panel you build.
Metabolism & organs
Chloride test
Major electrolyte; evaluates acid-base balance and hydration with sodium and bicarbonate. Included with every panel.
At a glance
In about 5 days
Most results are ready in about 5 days. Some specialty markers can take up to 21 days.
Check before your draw
This marker has no preparation tag, but it can still need preparation. Contact us before your draw if you’re not sure.
Walk in at Quest
Your lab order arrives by email. Most Quest locations take walk-ins, so bring it with a photo ID.
What it measures
Chloride is one of your electrolytes, minerals that carry a small electric charge and keep your body’s fluids and acid levels in balance. It can move up and down with sodium.
Why it matters for women
Long bouts of vomiting, like morning sickness that won’t let up, can lower chloride along with other electrolytes, and so can some water pills. Chloride is read alongside sodium and potassium, so it’s most useful as part of the bigger picture of your fluid balance.
You might check it if…
- you’ve had a lot of vomiting or diarrhea
- you feel dehydrated, weak or unusually tired
- you take water pills
- a doctor is checking your kidneys or fluid balance
What your result may mean
High Chloride: what it may mean
High chloride (hyperchloremia) can come with dehydration or with a form of metabolic acidosis, for example after long-lasting diarrhea or with certain kidney conditions. Chloride can move up and down with sodium, so the two may be read together, along with potassium and bicarbonate. Salt-based IV fluids can raise it for a short time. Many people may have no symptoms from the number itself, though thirst or tiredness can come with fluid loss.
Low Chloride: what it may mean
Low chloride (hypochloremia) can follow long bouts of vomiting, water pill (diuretic) use or fluid overload, and it can move together with low sodium. Morning sickness that won't let up can lower chloride along with other electrolytes, so it may matter in pregnancy. Heart failure can also make the body hold extra fluid, which can dilute chloride. Weakness, muscle cramps or confusion can appear when levels fall further, and mild cases may cause no symptoms. A clinician may look at your sodium, potassium and fluid balance to sort out the reason.
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These notes provide context and do not diagnose a condition. Not yet available in NY, NJ, RI, HI, ND, SD or WV.