Electrolyte Panel, Plasma Test
The Electrolyte Panel, Plasma measures four electrolytes — sodium, potassium, chloride, and carbon dioxide — in a single plasma sample. Clinicians read the four results together as a pattern rather than as separate numbers.
About this panel
Sodium, potassium, chloride, and carbon dioxide are electrolytes that reflect how the body manages fluid balance and acid-base status. This panel reports all four from one plasma sample, using methods specific to each analyte rather than a single combined method.
This panel is commonly ordered in hospital and emergency settings to help evaluate conditions and monitor treatments that affect electrolyte balance. Changes in these levels may be associated with kidney disease, respiratory conditions, and other metabolic processes, which is why a clinician reads the panel alongside a person's symptoms and history rather than on its own.
Who might consider this panel?
- Because the four results are read together, the reason for testing shapes how a clinician interprets the pattern.
Test details
| Quest code | 14964 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | See individual tests |
| Sample type | 1 mL plasma |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
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Additional details
What this test looks at
The panel reports four separate values — sodium, potassium, chloride, and carbon dioxide (bicarbonate) — from a single plasma sample. Each is measured individually, and Quest lists methodology as specific to each analyte rather than one combined method. Together the four numbers describe electrolyte balance, acid-base status, and water distribution.
Order online and a physician order is included — no doctor's visit and no insurance needed. Your sample is collected at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Electrolyte Panel, Plasma measure?
It measures four electrolytes — sodium, potassium, chloride, and carbon dioxide (bicarbonate) — in a plasma sample, reflecting electrolyte balance, acid-base status, and water distribution in the body.
How is the sample collected?
The test uses a plasma sample from a routine blood draw at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Do I need to prepare for this test?
No preparation instructions are listed for this test, though people follow any instructions their ordering clinician provides.
Why might this panel be ordered?
It is often ordered in hospital or emergency settings, or to help evaluate conditions and monitor treatments that affect electrolyte balance. A clinician reads the four results together rather than individually.
Can this panel show what's causing an imbalance?
No. It reports levels of four electrolytes; identifying a cause requires a clinician's evaluation of the full pattern along with symptoms and history.
Can I get the Electrolyte Panel, Plasma test without a doctor's visit or insurance?
Yes. The $19 cash price includes an independent physician's order, so no referral is needed, and insurance is never involved.