Metabolic acidosis: Difference between revisions

To distinguish between the main types of metabolic acidosis, a clinical tool called the [[anion gap]] is very useful. The anion gap is calculated by subtracting the sum of the serum concentrations of major anions, chloride and bicarbonate, from the serum concentration of the major anioncation, sodium. (The serum potassium concentration may be added to the calculation, but this merely changes the normal reference range for what is considered a normal anion gap)