The CO2 blood test is typically ordered with other electrolyte blood tests to determine the status of a person’s electrolyte balance. Sometimes this panel is ordered as a part of a routine health screening, but it can also be used to determine the presence of an acute or chronic illness or disease. It may also be used as a monitoring tool to determine the effectiveness of a treatment plan implemented for either high blood pressure or kidney disease.
Bicarbonate is normally absorbed and excreted by the kidneys as needed to maintain a proper balance at the cellular level of electrical neutrality.
CO2, which measures bicarbonate levels, will help to determine how severe the imbalance of electrolytes happens to be. It will also determine whether the issue being faced is metabolic in nature or is due to a respiratory issue. After discovery, the CO2 blood test can be used to monitor treatments until the electrolyte imbalance has been corrected.
When To Speak With a Doctor About the CO2 Blood Test
The CO2 blood test is almost never ordered on its own. It is almost always ordered as part of an electrolyte panel. Having a routine blood screen is the most common reason why this test is ordered and in this circumstance, the test results will typically fall into a normal range. Even if one electrolyte is slightly out-of-balance, there may no medical significance to the test results.
It is also used to detect a pH imbalance, which means there is an increase or decrease in fluid retention for some reason. Signs and symptoms of this may include chronic diarrhea, frequent vomiting, certain lung diseases like COPD, and decreased energy levels.
If you suspect an aspirin overdose has occurred, then the CO2 blood test can determine the extent of this overdose and what kind of treatment plan should be developed to counter the issue.
Anyone suffering from breathing problems, problems with prolonged vomiting where even water cannot be consumed, unusual weakness, or confusion should also consider speaking to their doctor about the potential benefits of having their bicarbonate levels tested.
What Do My CO2 Blood Test Results Mean?
The CO2 blood test measures the total level of bicarbonate that exists in the blood. By looking at this specific result, the other electrolyte balances can be determined. If one is out of balance, then an abnormal test result can help a medical provider begin to pin down a diagnosis.
Having too much or too little potassium, magnesium, sodium, and other vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes can all have specific signs and symptoms that can all be traced back to an abnormal CO2 test result. Treating the issue depends on what symptoms are being seen and what electrolytes are out-of-balance. Supplements, dietary changes, water consumption behaviors, and other actions may all be used to correct the issue.
In certain instances, an abnormal CO2 blood test can also indicate the presence of kidney disease, Addison’s disease, Conn syndrome, acidosis, or diabetic ketoacidosis. It can also detect alkalosis conditions that are metabolic in nature.
Here’s What You Need to Know
Certain drugs can increase the bicarbonate levels in the blood and cause an abnormal CO2 blood test result. The most common drugs are loop diuretics and steroids, but certain barbiturates and cortisone combinations can also change results. Certain bicarbonate tablets taken for indigestion or heartburn may also cause abnormal results if they are taken in high quantities. Antibiotics and thiazide diuretics can also artificially lower CO2 levels.
It is fairly common for a medical provider to order a blood gases test after the total CO2 blood test to determine what the body’s pH levels happen to be. The blood gases test will also help to detect the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide that exist so that lung functioning can be evaluated. When the test results are combined, a treatment plan can be developed to address the issue.
The CO2 blood test can help medical providers take the first steps in a journey that will diagnose the cause of an electrolyte of pH imbalance. It may be part of a regular health examination or be a test that is ordered when medical services are required for some reason. Although it isn’t often ordered by itself, it is such common test that almost everyone has had it at some point in their lives as part of a comprehensive evaluation. Discuss your options today with your medical provider to determine if this blood test may be right for you.