A patient seated in the chair before a blood draw
In person

Chloride

An electrolyte that helps balance body fluids, from one blood draw.

Loading price
  • 2,000+ lab locations. Find one near you
  • Nothing due at the lab. FSA / HSA accepted
  • Ordered by a licensed clinician

At a glance

Collection
Blood draw
A standard blood draw at the lab.
Preparation
None
Nothing to do ahead of time. Water is fine.
Results
1 to 2 days
Typical turnaround after your visit.
Where
2,000+ lab locations
Nationwide, with nothing due at the lab.

About this test

Chloride is an electrolyte that pairs with sodium to keep body fluids balanced and electrically neutral. It also helps your blood carry carbon dioxide, so it ties into acid-base balance. Chloride is rarely checked alone and is usually read with sodium and CO2. No fasting is needed.

For adults 18 and older. Test availability varies by lab location.

Who should take this test?

This test is for adults whose healthcare provider wants to follow chloride, usually with other electrolytes, for hydration questions, medication check-ins, or a past result.

Ask about this test

Not sure this is the right test?

AI-generated. For information only, not medical advice. Call 911 for an emergency.

What does this test measure?

Your result shows how much chloride is in your blood, which can help a healthcare provider read fluid and acid-base balance alongside sodium, potassium, and CO2.

Chloride
Chloride is an electrolyte that works with sodium to keep fluids and electrical charges in balance in your body. It usually moves in step with sodium. It is rarely read on its own and is most useful alongside sodium, potassium, and carbon dioxide in an electrolyte or metabolic panel.
Why it’s measured: Read with sodium and CO2 to check fluid and acid-base balance.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Order online

    Check out here. A licensed clinician in your state reviews your order and sends it to the lab.

  2. Step 2

    Visit a lab

    Bring a photo ID to any of 2,000+ lab locations. No fasting needed, and nothing is due at the lab.

  3. Step 3

    Get your results

    Results post to your account, usually in 1 to 2 days, each number next to the lab’s reference range.

Find a lab near you

Choose from 2,000+ lab locations nationwide. Your order works at any of them.

What your results tell you

Chloride is reported in millimoles per liter (mmol/L) and compared with the lab’s reference range, which is shown on your report.

  • Your number next to the lab’s reference range
  • Explained in plain language
  • A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test.
  • A lab report you can download and share

Chloride usually moves with sodium and CO2, so talk with a healthcare provider about your result together with your other electrolytes.

Clinical-grade testing, from the comfort of home.

From the lab to your report, every step of our process meets the gold standard in medical testing.

  • CLIA-certified labs

    Every lab we partner with is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, meeting both state and federal standards with regular independent inspections.

  • We protect your health data

    We protect your health data with encryption and do not sell it. Some results must be reported to public health authorities by law. See our Privacy Notice.

  • Rigorous quality assurance

    All partner labs run regular internal quality checks, participate in proficiency testing, and comply with federal and state lab regulations.

  • Clinician-reviewed reports

    Results are reviewed by an independent, licensed clinician.

Questions

Common questions.

Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.

Chloride is the main negatively charged electrolyte in the fluid outside your cells. It balances the positive charge of sodium, helps hold water where it belongs, and moves in and out of red blood cells as they carry carbon dioxide. Much of it comes from salt in food.

Chloride tends to rise and fall with sodium, and it often moves in the opposite direction from bicarbonate (CO2). Looking at all three together helps a healthcare provider understand hydration and acid-⁠base balance more clearly than chloride alone.

Not on its own. Chloride is one electrolyte, and a result outside the range can have many causes, from fluid loss to medicines to kidney or breathing changes. A healthcare provider reads it with your other results and history before suggesting a next step.

Lab tests are informational and don’t diagnose conditions on their own. Available to adults 18 and older; test availability varies by lab location. A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test. All testing is performed at CLIA-certified laboratories. Not for emergencies: if you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911.