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Anion Gap Blood Test - Anion Gap Blood Testing, Procedure to Conduct, Risks and Results for Anion Gap Blood Test

Anion Gap Blood Testing

Anion gap blood test measures the difference between cations and anions in blood. This gap is the difference between the sum of cations and anion found in serum or plasma. This gap is determined by measuring the concentrations of bicarbonate anions and sodium cations and chloride. Increasing effects of anion gap reflects the presence of unmeasured anions, as in uremic, diabetic sphysiologic anaerobic glycolysis, fructose and phenformin administration, and poisoning by methanol. While the decreasing serum anion gap is seen in the dilutional states and hyperviscosity syndromes associated with paraproteinemias.

Based on the observation of the sum of blood cations, the anion gap blood test method is used to evaluate a patient's acid-base status. The sum of the blood cations usually exceeds the sum of the anions, and the difference between the two is known as the anion gap. The reason why the test is carried out is to determine Alcoholic ketoacidosis, Diabetes with ketoacidosis, Elevated blood magnesium, Lactic acidosis, and Metabolic acidosis. Read more on anion gap blood test

Procedure to Conduct Anion Gap Blood Test

Procedure of anion gap blood test is done as a blood sample from a vein is needed, a vein in your arm is usually selected and a needle will be inserted. The person who is testing will be asked to hold very still while your blood is collected. The blood will be collected into more than 1 test tube, and the tourniquet (a device used to check bleeding) will be removed. When the required blood has been collected, the healthcare worker will take the needle out.

Risks Involved in Anion Gap Blood Test

Risks of anion gap blood testing blood include excessive bleeding, feeling faint or feeling lightheaded, the development of a hematoma, where blood builds up under the skin and multiple needle sticks to locate veins. In the event that methylene blue rapidly lowers the levels of methemoglobin in the blood then it is considered normal. However, a rare form of hereditary methemoglobinemia is suspected when the methylene blue does not significantly lower blood levels of methemoglobin.

Results for Anion Gap Blood Test

The anion gap blood test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, and the method used for the test. Adults and Children [7][ 7-16 mEq/L]. The Anion Gap is the difference between the sum of the most abundant measured serum anions–Cl– and HCO3– and serum cations–Na+ and K+; urinary AG is calculated as Na+ + K+ – Cl– and is a crude index of the levels of urinary ammonium. This is then used to evaluate hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis Ref range 7-16 mEq/L. These are the test results of anion gap.

 
  Submitted on November 1, 2010  
 
 
 
 
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