Question

serum sodium diagnosis

Answer 1

Serum electrolytes consist of cation and anion. Cations are sodium, potassium, calcium, and anions are chloride, phosphate, bicarbonate. It is determined by flame photometer  

Normal levels of sodium in serum are 135-145mEq/L

Precaution is to be taken while doing sodium estimation

the sample should be collected with heparin as anticoagulant and not oxalate

Samples should not be hemolysed

Nebuliser should be patent clean to produce a steady flame without yellow streaks.

Water should be deionized.

Hyponatremia

Due to an increase in sodium loss

Addison disease, Repeated gastric aspiration prolonged diarrhea, and vomiting, extensive burn, excessive sweating

Hypernatremia

prolonged corticosteroid therapy, Diabetoketoacidosis

Flame photometer principle

The light emitted from the flame is split intontwo beams. One beam falls on the Na monochromator and other on K monochromator so that both can be measured simultaneously

Flame photometer with monochromators emits radiations of characteristic wavelengths which help to detect the presence of a particular metal in the sample. ... Na+ and K+ ions in, muscles, and heart can be determined by diluting the blood serum and aspiration into the flame.