Bicarbonate Test

Bicarbonate (or HCO3) is an electrolyte present in the human body that helps keep the acid-base balance in check. It is transported by the blood to the lungs, from where it gets expelled as carbon dioxide (CO2). Kidneys also play a role in bicarbonate regulation by absorbing and removing bicarbonate.

A bicarbonate test helps measure the total CO2 in the blood, which is present in the form of bicarbonate. The bicarbonate (or total CO2) test is generally not done selectively. It is ordered along with sodium, potassium and chloride tests as a part of an electrolyte panel, which is included in a basic metabolic panel. Bicarbonate level might also be calculated as a part of a blood gas panel.

A bicarbonate test is prescribed to monitor the acid-base balance of the body. A doctor may prescribe this test if a patient has a renal illness, liver failure or other metabolic problems. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a serious problem in India. The levels of bicarbonate play an essential role in the matter of renal diseases. Therefore, this test is routinely prescribed for this condition.

The test uses only the plasma, that is, the fluid in your blood, excluding the cells in the blood and platelets that help blood clot. The amount of bicarbonate is then measured by how fast the sample's acidity changes.

Bicarbonate Test Alternative Names

•  Bicarb Test
•  HCO3- Test

What Does Bicarbonate Test Measure and Who is it Prescribed For?

A bicarbonate test and blood gas panel are ordered to evaluate the severity of the pH imbalance when a doctor finds symptoms of acidosis or alkalosis is suspected.

 A bicarbonate test help experts determine whether the condition of the patient is primarily due to one of two reasons:

• A respiratory disorder (imbalance between the amount of oxygen being inhaled and CO2 being exhaled).
• A metabolic disorder (imbalance in the acid produced in the body or inability of the kidneys to excrete acid from the body).

The test also helps in the formulation of a treatment plan so that the acid-base balance is restored.

This test may also be ordered when you have an acute condition with symptoms such as:

• Extreme vomiting and/or diarrhoea
• Weakness and fatigue
• Difficulty in breathing (respiratory distress)
• Dehydration
• Confusion
• Feeling feverish
• Dyspnoea or shortness of breath
• A rapid heart rate
• Swelling or bloating of various parts of the body
• Fatigue or tiredness
• Numbness in the hands or feet
• A tingling sensation in the body
• Muscle weakness
• Constant irritability
• Spasms or cramping of the muscles
• Seizures

Some disease conditions for which a Bicarbonate Test can be prescribed are:

• Addison’s disease
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Chronic diarrhoea
• Metabolic acidosis
• Metabolic alkalosis
• Respiratory alkalosis
• Renal disease
• Shock
• Aspirin overdose
• Lung diseases
• Cushing’s disease
• Methanol poisoning

Changes in the levels of bicarbonate and carbon dioxide dissolved in the blood are an indicator of the acid-base imbalance in the body. The nature of the imbalance, however, cannot be determined solely from the bicarbonate test value itself and the test for the determination of bicarbonate is rarely ordered alone.

A bicarbonate test value is significant only along with the value of other electrolytes in a whole electrolyte panel and all the other electrolytes are assessed along with it in order to do screening for electrolyte imbalance.

This test requires blood as a sample.

Bicarbonate Test Preparation

The bicarbonate test is a blood test that does not require fasting or any specific preparation. The usual way to collect a blood sample is by drawing it from one of the veins. This is known as venipuncture. This vein is usually the most prominent one in the forearm of a person. This procedure lasts for 5 minutes.

Bicarbonate Test Inclusions: What Parameters Are Included?

The Bicarbonate test includes the following parameters:

• Measuring the concentration of bicarbonate in the blood.

An electrolyte panel usually covers these parameters. It measures the bicarbonate levels as well as the sodium, potassium, and chloride levels in your blood.

There may be an imbalance of all these elements in the body, which is indicated by the following symptoms:

Following a diagnosis, once the treatment for metabolic acidosis or metabolic alkalosis is initiated by a healthcare provider or doctor, the bicarbonate test may be prescribed every six months to monitor and regulate the dosage. The results of the electrolyte panel may help your doctor to continue the same treatment or modify the dosage of ongoing medicines.

The bicarbonate test is applicable for males and females, both adults and children.

How Frequently Should You Take Bicarbonate Test?

An electrolyte panel can be used to help diagnose electrolyte imbalances and acid-base (pH) imbalances, that is, metabolic acidosis or metabolic alkalosis. These tests may be done as a part of a routine health check-up or to help evaluate and monitor a number of chronic or acute illnesses, such as:

• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Lung disorders
• High blood pressure (hypertension)

Electrolyte panels may be ordered at regular intervals or when you have a disorder or condition or if you have currently been put on a medication that may cause an electrolyte imbalance.

Metabolic acidosis, Metabolic alkalosis (both of these disorders denote an imbalance in the level of electrolytes in the body)