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Metabolic test low carbon dioxide plasma or serum??

Laulau
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Laulau Rookie
Laulau
Posted

Anyone know what a low co2 level would mean? Saw my 2 year old metabolic test results and the carbon dioxide plasma or serum was at 18.7? All else looked normal. Thank you!

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RMJ Mentor
RMJ
Posted

This link has some information.  Why was it tested?  It isn’t a routine test.

Carbon dioxide in blood

Laulau Rookie
Laulau
Posted
  • Author

It was part of a metabolic screening to check for things like anemia. The rest of the results came out in a normal range just don’t understand what and why for this specific result “carbon dioxide plasma or serum”. Thanks!

Laulau Rookie
Laulau
Posted
  • Author

As a follow-up the dr said if she was crying/upset during the blood draw, that would account for it…which she definitely  was!!!

RMJ Mentor
RMJ
Posted
18 minutes ago, Laulau said:

As a follow-up the dr said if she was crying/upset during the blood draw, that would account for it…which she definitely  was!!!

I’m glad it had an easy explanation!  That makes sense, crying,breathing hard, breathing out more CO2, leading to a lower level.

Posterboy Mentor
Posterboy
Posted

Laulau et Al,

Let me first say RMJ has given you a good resource.

RMJ thanks for that link.....I have quoted that site myself and it is helpful.

I hope it was just a temporary drop in their CO2 levels......but I would be afraid it might be of a more chronic nature....

As far as I understand it......unless if the C02 levels come back low again then there is not much to worry about....

I had a false positive once for Hepatitis due to a recent sickness but later found out it was a false alarm....

So I feel your concern......but as I understand it....

If you or your child continues do have consistently low CO2 levels then it could be from a chronic metabolic issue or an underlying cause triggering low CO2 levels etc.

A quick way to test this is (If their is a chronic condition) underlying the low CO2 test is to do a pH test on her urine....

pH test's strips are commonly available at most Pharmacies and would put your mind at ease.....that there is not a chronic issue at play here.

This article by the Kidney Coach website explains it well.....because if the CO2 levels are chronically low due to a metabolic disorder it will (As far as I understand it) will show up in your/their Urine pH......due to being low in either (Calcium, Potassium or Magnesium)  IE an electrolyte imbalance in the blood etc...

https://www.kidneycoach.com/causes-of-kidney-disease/magnesium-citrate-its-use-in-renal-disease/

Magnesium Citrate is the easiest way to restore the "Metabolic Homeostasis" if indeed that is the case....

The article will explain in  more detail why this is so....

a short quote from Acid Base balance or "Homeostasis' part of the article so you won't have to read it all to till you get a chance....

"Buffering Systems- exist in many tissues and work to regulate pH values minute to minute. Most critical of these are the blood-based buffering systems, which rely on carbon dioxide and water and alkaline minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium, to maintain blood pH. When the blood is too acidic, alkaline minerals (eg. calcium, potassium, and magnesium) are leached from the bones, and magnesium is released from the muscles to offset the acidity in the blood."

And in short why if your body gets low in Magnesium you could have low C02 levels.....

But no worries the pH test of their/your urine will quickly tell you if their is an underlying metabolic cause? or at least  if their is a cause for more concern or if it only related to the excited condition of drawing the blood etc.

I hope this is helpful but it is  not medical advice.

Posterboy,

Laulau Rookie
Laulau
Posted
  • Author

 

14 hours ago, Posterboy said:

Laulau et Al,

Let me first say RMJ has given you a good resource.

RMJ thanks for that link.....I have quoted that site myself and it is helpful.

I hope it was just a temporary drop in their CO2 levels......but I would be afraid it might be of a more chronic nature....

As far as I understand it......unless if the C02 levels come back low again then there is not much to worry about....

I had a false positive once for Hepatitis due to a recent sickness but later found out it was a false alarm....

So I feel your concern......but as I understand it....

If you or your child continues do have consistently low CO2 levels then it could be from a chronic metabolic issue or an underlying cause triggering low CO2 levels etc.

A quick way to test this is (If their is a chronic condition) underlying the low CO2 test is to do a pH test on her urine....

pH test's strips are commonly available at most Pharmacies and would put your mind at ease.....that there is not a chronic issue at play here.

This article by the Kidney Coach website explains it well.....because if the CO2 levels are chronically low due to a metabolic disorder it will (As far as I understand it) will show up in your/their Urine pH......due to being low in either (Calcium, Potassium or Magnesium)  IE an electrolyte imbalance in the blood etc...

https://www.kidneycoach.com/causes-of-kidney-disease/magnesium-citrate-its-use-in-renal-disease/

Magnesium Citrate is the easiest way to restore the "Metabolic Homeostasis" if indeed that is the case....

The article will explain in  more detail why this is so....

a short quote from Acid Base balance or "Homeostasis' part of the article so you won't have to read it all to till you get a chance....

"Buffering Systems- exist in many tissues and work to regulate pH values minute to minute. Most critical of these are the blood-based buffering systems, which rely on carbon dioxide and water and alkaline minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium, to maintain blood pH. When the blood is too acidic, alkaline minerals (eg. calcium, potassium, and magnesium) are leached from the bones, and magnesium is released from the muscles to offset the acidity in the blood."

And in short why if your body gets low in Magnesium you could have low C02 levels.....

But no worries the pH test of their/your urine will quickly tell you if their is an underlying metabolic cause? or at least  if their is a cause for more concern or if it only related to the excited condition of drawing the blood etc.

I hope this is helpful but it is  not medical advice.

Posterboy,

Thanks for this information…. It does look like on the metabolic screening her calcium and potassium where in the normal range so sounds like to your point things are in line

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