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Serum Chloride Test – Indications, Procedures, Results

Last updated: February 8, 2026 Medically reviewed by: RxHarun Orthopedic Specialist Doctor Reading time: 5 min read

A chloride blood test (serum chloride) measures the level of chloride in your blood. Chloride is one of the electrolytes in your blood. Electrolytes are minerals that carry an electric charge when they are dissolved in a liquid.

Chloride is a type of electrolyte. It works with other electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, and carbon dioxide (CO2). These substances help keep the proper balance of body fluids and maintain the body’s acid-base balance.

This article is about the laboratory test used to measure the amount of chloride in the fluid portion (serum) of the blood.

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed. Most of the time blood is drawn from a vein located on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand.

How to Prepare for the Test

Many medicines can interfere with blood test results.

  • Your health care provider will tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines before you have this test.
  • DO NOT stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider first.

Why the Test is Performed

You may have this test if you have signs that your body’s fluid level or acid-base balance is disturbed.

This test is most often ordered with other blood tests, such as a basic or comprehensive metabolic panel.

Normal Results

A typical normal range is 96 to 106 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L) or 96 to 106 millimoles per liter (millimol/L).

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

The example above shows the common measurement range for results for these tests. Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens.

What Abnormal Results Mean

A greater-than-normal level of chloride is called hyperchloremia. It may be due to:

  • Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (used to treat glaucoma)
  • Diarrhea
  • Metabolic acidosis
  • Respiratory alkalosis (compensated)
  • Renal tubular acidosis

A lower-than-normal level of chloride is called hypochloremia. It may be due to:

  • Addison disease
  • Bartter syndrome
  • Burns
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Dehydration
  • Excessive sweating
  • Hyperaldosteronism
  • Metabolic alkalosis
  • Respiratory acidosis (compensated)
  • Syndrome of inappropriate diuretic hormone secretion ( SIADH )
  • Vomiting

This test may also be done to help rule out or diagnose:

  • Multiple endocrine neoplasias (MEN) II
  • Primary hyperparathyroidism

FAQ

What happens if serum chloride is low?

  • Hypochloremia occurs when there’s a low level of chloride in your body. It can be caused by fluid loss through nausea or vomiting or by existing conditions, diseases, or medications. Your doctor may use a blood test to confirm hypochloremia. In mild cases, replenishing the chloride in your body can treat hypochloremia.

What causes low chloride in blood?

Causes of Hypochloremia:
  • Loss of body fluids from prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, sweating or high fevers. Drugs such as: bicarbonate, corticosteroids, diuretics, and laxatives.

What is a normal serum chloride level?

  • A typical normal range is 96 to 106 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L) or 96 to 106 millimoles per liter (millimol/L). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.

How do you treat low chloride levels?

  • Treatment of Hypochloremia. You may be given an intravenous (IV) saline solution to restore your electrolyte levels. If your electrolyte imbalance is mild, your doctor may advise you to eat foods rich in chloride or take a supplement.

How do you fix chloride levels?

Some treatment options include:
  • taking medications to prevent nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
  • changing drugs if they are a factor in the electrolyte imbalance.
  • drinking 2–3 quarts of fluid every day.
  • receiving intravenous fluids.
  • eating a better, more balanced diet.

Can drinking too much water cause low chloride levels?

  • Electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, and calcium) need to be in balance in order to maintain healthy blood, heart rhythm, muscle function, and other important functions. Drinking too much water can cause the electrolyte levels in the body to get out of whack and cause sodium levels to plummet.

What is a critical chloride level?

  • Normal levels of chloride for adults are in the 98–107 mEq/L range. If your test shows a chloride level higher than 107 mEq/L, you have hyperchloremia. In this case, your doctor may also test your urine for chloride and blood sugar levels to see if you have diabetes.

What happens if chloride is high?

  • It works with other electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, to help balance acids and bases in your body. It also helps move fluid in and out of your cells. So if your chloride levels drop, you can become sick and dehydrated. If your levels are too high, it often means your kidneys aren’t working properly.

What causes high chloride in blood work?

  • Many factors can affect your chloride levels, including Drinking excess fluids. Losing fluids due to vomiting or diarrhea. Certain medicines, such as antacids.

What causes high chloride in your blood?

  • Causes of hyperchloremia may include: Loss of body fluids from prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, sweating or high fever (dehydration). High levels of blood sodium. Kidney failure, or kidney disorders.

What causes low sodium and low chloride?

  • Chronic, severe vomiting or diarrhea and other causes of dehydration. This causes your body to lose electrolytes, such as sodium and also increases ADH levels. Drinking too much water. Drinking excessive amounts of water can cause low sodium by overwhelming the kidneys’ ability to excrete water.

What foods are high in chloride?

Food Sources

  • Chloride is found in table salt or sea salt as sodium chloride. It is also found in many vegetables. Foods with higher amounts of chloride include seaweed, rye, tomatoes, lettuce, celery, and olives.

What does a chloride level of 110 mean?

  • High chloride levels (>106-110 mEq/L) are known as hyperchloremia. Long-term or severe hyperchloremia can have the following symptoms from dehydration and metabolic acidosis (low blood pH) [1, 2]: Diarrhea.

What medications cause low chloride?

Low blood chloride levels can be caused by drugs such as:
  • Laxatives
  • Diuretics
  • Corticosteroids (long-term treatments)
  • Bicarbonates

How do you fix low sodium and low chloride?

Treatment
  1. Intravenous fluids. Your doctor may recommend IV sodium solution to slowly raise the sodium levels in your blood. …
  2. Medications. You may take medications to manage the signs and symptoms of hyponatremia, such as headaches, nausea and seizures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.

References

Add references, clinical guidelines, textbooks, journal articles, or trusted medical sources here. You can edit this area later with a custom field named _rx_references.

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Written by Dr. Harun Ar Rashid, MD - Arthritis, Bones, Joints Pain, Trauma, and Internal Medicine Specialist

Dr. Md. Harun Ar Rashid, MPH, MD, PhD, is a highly respected medical specialist celebrated for his exceptional clinical expertise and unwavering commitment to patient care. With advanced qualifications including MPH, MD, and PhD, he integrates cutting-edge research with a compassionate approach to medicine, ensuring that every patient receives personalized and effective treatment. His extensive training and hands-on experience enable him to diagnose complex conditions accurately and develop innovative treatment strategies tailored to individual needs. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Harun Ar Rashid is dedicated to medical education and research, writing and inventory creative thinking, innovative idea, critical care managementing make in his community to outreach, often participating in initiatives that promote health awareness and advance medical knowledge. His career is a testament to the high standards represented by his credentials, and he continues to contribute significantly to his field, driving improvements in both patient outcomes and healthcare practices. Born and educated in Bangladesh, Dr. Rashid earned his BPT from the University of Dhaka before pursuing postgraduate training internationally. He completed his MD in Internal Medicine at King’s College London, where he developed a special interest in inflammatory arthritis and metabolic bone disease. He then undertook a PhD in Orthopedic Science at the University of Oxford, conducting pioneering research on cytokine signaling pathways in rheumatoid arthritis. Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Rashid returned to clinical work with a fellowship in interventional pain management at the Rx University School of Medicine, refining his skills in image-guided joint injections and minimally invasive pain-relief techniques.