What is the normal value for the anion gap?

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Multiple Choice

What is the normal value for the anion gap?

Explanation:
Anion gap helps detect metabolic acidosis by highlighting unmeasured anions in the serum. It is calculated as Na minus (Cl plus HCO3). In adults, the normal range is about 8 to 12 mEq/L, with many references using an upper limit of 12. So a normal value is less than 12. When the gap rises above this, it suggests a high anion gap metabolic acidosis from causes like lactic acidosis, ketoacidosis, or toxin ingestion. A very low gap is uncommon and can be influenced by factors such as hypoalbuminemia. The other ranges either place the upper limit too high or describe values not consistent with the usual reference.

Anion gap helps detect metabolic acidosis by highlighting unmeasured anions in the serum. It is calculated as Na minus (Cl plus HCO3). In adults, the normal range is about 8 to 12 mEq/L, with many references using an upper limit of 12. So a normal value is less than 12. When the gap rises above this, it suggests a high anion gap metabolic acidosis from causes like lactic acidosis, ketoacidosis, or toxin ingestion. A very low gap is uncommon and can be influenced by factors such as hypoalbuminemia. The other ranges either place the upper limit too high or describe values not consistent with the usual reference.

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