Contributed by – Healthians Team
What is Sodium serum test?
Sodium blood test is also known as Na test. It measures the quantity of sodium present in your blood. Sodium is a kind of electrolyte. Electrolytes are electrically charged minerals and they aid in maintaining the fluid levels and the balance of chemicals in your body. These chemicals include acids and bases. Sodium is also very essential in helping your nerves and muscles work properly.
You get most of the sodium that your body needs from your diet. Your body absorbs sufficient sodium from the food that you eat. Then your kidneys get rid of the unwanted sodium through urine. In case sodium levels in your blood are too high or too low then it might indicate a problem with your kidneys, dehydration or some other medical condition. A sodium blood test might be a part of an examination called an electrolyte panel. An electrolyte panel is a blood test which measures the quantity of sodium present in body coupled with other electrolytes such as potassium, chloride and bicarbonate.
Who should get the test?
Your doctor might recommend a sodium blood test as part of your regular checkup and might suggest the same if you have symptoms of conditions related with sodium in your body. A condition wherein your bloodstream has too much sodium is called hypernatremia. Another condition where your bloodstream has less sodium is called hyponatremia.
Why is the test needed?
Signs of high sodium levels in your blood i.e. hypernatremia include excessive thirst coupled with infrequent urination. Vomiting and diarrhea are two other symptoms of it. Indicators of low sodium levels in your bloodstream i.e. hyponatremia include weakness, fatigue, confusion and muscle twitching.
What does the test result mean?
The reference range for serum sodium is 135 to 147 mmol/L. If your results show higher than normal sodium levels, then it may indicate that you have diarrhea or a kidney disorder or a disorder in your adrenal glands. Diabetes insipidus, a rare form of diabetes that happens when the kidneys pass an unusually high volume of urine.
If your results show lower than normal sodium levels it might suggest diarrhea, vomiting, kidney disease, Addison disease which is a condition where your body’s adrenal glands don’t produce enough hormones and Cirrhosis which is a condition that damages the liver. Malnutrition and heart failure are some other symptoms of it. However, if your results are not within the normal range, it doesn’t mean that you have a medical condition which needs treatment.
How is the test done?
You don’t require any special preparation for a sodium blood test or an electrolyte panel. If your doctor has suggested more tests on your blood sample, then you may need to fast before the test. Your medic will let you know if you need in case of any special instructions. A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm using a small needle. A small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. This procedure generally takes less than five minutes.
