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Carbon Dioxide (Bicarbonate)mmol/L
Total CO2 mostly reflects bicarbonate, a buffer that keeps the blood acid-base balance steady.
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What Carbon Dioxide (Bicarbonate) measures
Total CO2 mostly reflects bicarbonate, a buffer that keeps the blood acid-base balance steady.
If your Carbon Dioxide (Bicarbonate) is low
CO2 below the range can follow diarrhea, kidney function changes or conditions that make the blood more acidic; sample handling can also lower it.
Commonly associated with
- Diarrhea
- Kidney function
- Delayed sample processing
- Acid-base shifts
If your Carbon Dioxide (Bicarbonate) is high
CO2 above the range is commonly associated with vomiting, diuretics or lung conditions that retain carbon dioxide.
Commonly associated with
- Vomiting
- Diuretics
- Chronic lung conditions
Typical reference range
| Group | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Adults | 20 – 29 mmol/L |
Typical adult values used by many US labs. Your own report prints the range your lab validated for its method, and that range is the one that counts. Labwise always uses the printed range first.
If it is within range
Your CO2 (bicarbonate) is within the range printed by your lab.
Also listed as
CO2, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Dioxide, Total, Bicarbonate, HCO3, CO2, Total
Related tests
This page is general information about what a laboratory test measures and what results outside a reference range are commonly associated with. It is not medical advice, does not diagnose any condition and does not replace your clinician. Discuss your results with your healthcare provider.