title: [The magnitude of the 'anion gap'].
abstract: The anion gap is used to evaluate disturbances in the acid-base balance, in particular metabolic acidosis. Due to the introduction of new clinical chemical techniques and modern analysers the reference range of the anion gap has changed. Clinical chemical laboratories should establish or verify their own anion gap reference range. Better communication between the laboratory and the clinician with regard to the anion gap is desirable.
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium / Q000502:physiology*; D000137:Acid-Base Imbalance / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000140:Acidosis, Lactic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D012016:Reference Values