Library/Electrolytes/Anion gap/22

Anion gap of 22 mEq/LWhat it means, and what usually happens next

22mEq/L Anion gap
Very high
4131721

An anion gap of 22 mEq/L is well above the usual range, a level that usually means acid is building up in the blood.

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Anion gap22mEq/L
Where it fallsVery high
The usual rangeabout 4 to 12 mEq/L on most modern analysers (8 to 16 on older ones); your lab's own range is the one to use

What usually happens next

Call your doctor today, and get urgent care if you're unwell, breathing fast, confused or vomiting.

Ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis, kidney failure and some poisonings are what's looked for.

What a high anion gap usually means, and its common causes

When an anion gap can read wrong

The anion gap is worked out from sodium, chloride and bicarbonate, so any error in those moves it. Low albumin lowers it (by about 2.5 for each 1 g/dL drop), and labs use different ranges depending on their analyser.

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Nearby results

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Questions

Is an anion gap of 22 mEq/L normal?

An anion gap of 22 mEq/L is well above the usual range, a level that usually means acid is building up in the blood. The usual range is about 4 to 12 mEq/L on most modern analysers (8 to 16 on older ones); your lab's own range is the one to use.

Is an anion gap of 22 mEq/L bad?

Read it against the range on your report: modern analysers use about 4 to 12 mEq/L, older ones 8 to 16. A high gap with a low bicarbonate matters most.

Worked out by LifeFrom from Kraut and Madias's review and the usual lab ranges, and not yet reviewed by a clinician. For your own understanding: only a lab test, read by your clinician, diagnoses anything.