Serum Electrolytes

 Electrolytes are minerals that are involved in some of the important functions in our body. Serum electrolytes are routinely ordered for a patient admitted to a hospital as a screening test for electrolyte and acid-base imbalances. Here we discuss the normal lab values of the commonly ordered serum tests: potassium, serum sodium, serum chloride, and serum bicarbonate. Serum electrolytes may be ordered as a “Chem 7” or as a “basic metabolic panel (BMP)”.