Patient Preparation:No special preparation is required
Mild forms of electrolyte imbalances usually sort itself out and may not require testing and treatment. Loss of fluid from the body will cause electrolyte imbalance; vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive sweating in high temperatures. Some kidney disorders will cause electrolytes to be imbalanced.
Your doctor may order this test for you if you have recently experienced severe loss of fluids or if the doctor suspects that you have a kidney disorder
Electrolytes are minerals that are found in body tissues and blood in the form of dissolved salts. As electrically charged particles, electrolytes help move nutrients into and wastes out of the body's cells, maintain a healthy water balance, and help stabilize the body's acid/base (pH) level.
High or low electrolyte levels can be attributed to a variety of conditions. Generally, the levels reflect the intake through diet, amount absorbed by the body, the amount of water in a person's body, and the amount eliminated by the kidneys. They are also influenced by several hormones such as aldosterone, a hormone that conserves sodium and promotes the elimination of potassium, and natriuretic peptides, which increase elimination of sodium by the kidneys.
Sample: Serum (2 mL)
Methodology: Indirect ISE