A chloride test measures the level of chloride in your blood or urine. Chloride is one of the most important electrolytes in the blood. It helps keep the amount of fluid inside and outside of your cells in balance. It also helps maintain proper blood volume, blood pressure, and pH of your body fluids.
The normal range for blood chloride is between 96 and 106 milliequivalents of chloride per liter of blood (mEq/L).
A chloride level that's above normal means there's too much chloride in your blood, which is called hyperchloremia. Hyperchloremia usually indicates dehydration, but can also occur with other problems that cause high blood sodium, such as Cushing syndrome or kidney disease.
A low chloride level indicates that you have too little chloride in your blood, which is called hypochloremia. It can be caused by fluid loss through nausea or vomiting or by existing conditions, diseases, or medications.