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Description

The clinical test for sodium is a blood test that measures the amount of sodium in the blood. It is usually done as part of a routine blood test or when a doctor suspects that a patient may have a sodium imbalance. The test measures the amount of sodium in the serum, which is the liquid part of the blood.

To obtain a sample of serum for the sodium test, a healthcare provider will draw a sample of blood from the patient's arm. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. In the laboratory, the sample is centrifuged to separate the serum from the other components of the blood. The serum is then tested for sodium levels using a chemical reaction. The results of the test are reported as millimoles per liter (mmol/L).

Synonyms

• Na

Other Sample Sources for This Test

• cerebrospinal fluid
• feces
• hair
• nails
• peritoneal fluid
• plasma
• red blood cells
• saliva
• sweat
• urine
• whole blood

Some Diseases Associated with an Abnormal Sodium

• benign hypertension
• diabetes mellitus
• normal pregnancy
• celiac disease
• malignant pulmonary neoplasm
• acute myocardial infarction
• anemia
• hypothyroidism
• acute pancreatitis
• fever
• nonmedicinal toxicity
• AIDS
• acute renal failure

Detailed Laboratory Testing Information (use the custom search buttons below to find details on these topics)

All of the following must be considered when interpreting clinical findings and are too extensive to be covered on this site: