Chloride
An electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance and the blood's acid-base status.
Typical reference range
| Range | Unit |
|---|---|
| 98–107 | mmol/l |
What Chloride measures
Chloride is an electrolyte that works closely with sodium to help maintain the body's fluid balance and to regulate blood acidity, or pH. It moves between compartments alongside other charged particles and is one of the values reported on a routine metabolic panel.
- It supports fluid balance together with sodium.
- It plays a role in acid-base balance and blood pH.
Because it rarely shifts on its own, chloride is usually interpreted alongside sodium, bicarbonate, and the anion gap rather than read in isolation. Looking at these together helps a clinician see the broader electrolyte and acid-base picture instead of drawing conclusions from a single number.
What a high Chloride can mean
A high chloride level, known as hyperchloremia, often tracks with dehydration, where a loss of body water concentrates the electrolytes in the blood. It can also appear with certain acid-base disturbances, particularly some forms of acidosis, and may reflect how the kidneys are handling chloride or the effect of intravenous fluids given in a clinical setting.
- Reduced body water and dehydration.
- Certain types of acidosis.
- Kidney handling of electrolytes or IV fluids.
On its own, a raised chloride says little. It is interpreted together with sodium and bicarbonate to understand the underlying picture, and any next steps belong in a conversation with a clinician who knows your full context.
What a low Chloride can mean
A low chloride level, known as hypochloremia, can relate to fluid and electrolyte losses, such as those from prolonged vomiting, and to the effect of some diuretics. It may also accompany certain acid-base disturbances that shift the balance of charged particles in the blood.
- Fluid losses from vomiting.
- The effect of some diuretics.
- Certain acid-base disturbances.
Like the other electrolytes, chloride is read in the context of the whole panel and your clinical situation rather than by itself. A single low value is a prompt to look at the wider picture, and interpreting what it means for you is best done with a clinician.
Track your Chloride over time in Quanome — it reads your lab reports (PDF or photo) on your device, charts each marker against its range, and an AI coach explains what your trends mean alongside your Apple Health and DNA.