Plasma Anion Gap Flashcards
1
Q
What is anion gap ?
A
A measure of the balance between the cations and the anions.
Represents how many more cations there are compared to anions.
Represents also the unmeasured/ignored anions.
2
Q
What is the purpose of the anion gap ?
A
Calculating the anion gap is a tool used to identify the potential cause of metabolic acidosis.
3
Q
State the formula to calculate the anion gap. What is the normal range
A
Anion gap = Sodium concentration - ( chloride concentration + Bicarbonate concentration )
Normal range: 3 - 11 mEq/L
