The anion gap is primarily used to determine the cause of metabolic acidosis, a condition where the body is producing too much acid or not enough acid is being removed from the body. The list below details some potential causes of metabolic acidosis that is associated with a high anion gap. The anion gap tells you if your electrolytes are unbalanced, which can cause changes in the acid levels in the blood. An anion gap result can be low, normal, or high. A low anion gap (less than 6 mEq/L) may indicate: Low levels of albumin in the blood (hypoalbuminemia) Plasma cell disorder Monoclonal protein Bromide intoxication Normal variant An anion gap blood test is a way to check the acid-base balance (pH balance) of your blood. It tells you if your blood is too acidic or not acidic enough. The test uses the results of another blood test called an electrolyte panel . Using the results of the comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), the anion gap is the difference between measured cations (positively charged ions like Na+ and K+) and measured anions (negatively charged ions like Cl- and HCO3-). There are three types: serum, plasma, and urine anion gaps. Normal anion gap readings range from 3–10 milliequivalents per liter. Readings outside this range may indicate a pH imbalance, and this can stem from a wide variety of health issues. Having an Anion Gap (Blood) Does this test have other names? Serum anion gap What is this test? This test looks at electrically charged particles in your blood. This helps your healthcare provider diagnose acid-base problems. The test results are done using the results of an electrolyte panel, another blood test. The anion gap is the quantity difference between cations (positively charged ions) and anions (negatively charged ions) in serum, plasma, or urine. The magnitude of this difference (i.e., "gap") in the serum is calculated to identify metabolic acidosis. If the gap is greater than normal, then high anion gap metabolic acidosis is diagnosed. 1A8ge9l.

what is an anion gap