Electrolytes

Electrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge.

Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways, including:

·       The amount of water in your body

·       The acidity of your blood (pH)

·       Your muscle function

·       Other important processes

You lose electrolytes when you sweat. You must replace them by drinking fluids that contain electrolytes. Water does not contain electrolytes.

Common electrolytes include:

·       Calcium

·       Chloride

·       Magnesium

·       Phosphorus

·       Potassium

·       Sodium

Electrolytes can be acids, bases, or salts. They can be measured by different blood tests. Each electrolyte can be measured separately, such as:

·       Ionized calcium

·       Serum calcium

·       Serum chloride

·       Serum magnesium

·       Serum phosphorus

·       Serum potassium

·       Serum sodium

Note: Serum is the part of blood that doesn't contain cells.

Sodium, potassium, and chloride levels can also be measured as part of a basic metabolic panel. A more complete test, called comprehensive metabolic panel, can test for these several more electrolytes.

The electrolytes - urine test measures electrolytes in urine. It test the levels of calcium, chloride, potassium, sodium, and other electrolytes.

Source https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002350.htm