Which compound is used to calculate bicarbonate in the anion gap calculation described?

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Multiple Choice

Which compound is used to calculate bicarbonate in the anion gap calculation described?

Explanation:
Anion gap calculations use bicarbonate as the key anion in the equation Na+ − (Cl− + HCO3−). In routine panels, bicarbonate isn’t always measured directly. Instead, total CO2 (TCO2) is measured and serves as an estimate of bicarbonate because at physiological pH most CO2 in blood is present as bicarbonate; TCO2 equals bicarbonate plus a small amount of dissolved CO2, which is usually negligible. So, for the purpose of calculating the bicarbonate component in the anion gap, TCO2 is used as the surrogate. pCO2 isn’t part of this calculation, and while Na is needed for the gap, it isn’t the bicarbonate substitute.

Anion gap calculations use bicarbonate as the key anion in the equation Na+ − (Cl− + HCO3−). In routine panels, bicarbonate isn’t always measured directly. Instead, total CO2 (TCO2) is measured and serves as an estimate of bicarbonate because at physiological pH most CO2 in blood is present as bicarbonate; TCO2 equals bicarbonate plus a small amount of dissolved CO2, which is usually negligible. So, for the purpose of calculating the bicarbonate component in the anion gap, TCO2 is used as the surrogate. pCO2 isn’t part of this calculation, and while Na is needed for the gap, it isn’t the bicarbonate substitute.

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