<unk>  is an anion in the human body needed for metabolism (the process of turning food into energy). It also helps keep the body's acid-base balance. The amount of<unk>  is carefully controlled by the kidneys.<unk>  ions have important physiological roles. For instance, in the central nervous system, the inhibitory action of glycine and some of the action of GABA relies on the entry of Cl− into specific neurons. Also, the<unk> -bicarbonate exchanger biological transport protein relies on the<unk>  ion to increase the blood's capacity of carbon dioxide, in the form of the bicarbonate ion; this is the mechanism underpinning the<unk>  shift occurring as the blood passes through oxygen-consuming capillary beds. The normal blood reference range of<unk>  for adults in most labs is 96 to 106 milliequivalents (mEq) per liter. The normal range may vary slightly from lab to lab. Normal ranges are usually shown next to results in the lab report. A diagnostic test may use a<unk> meter to determine the<unk>  level. The North American Dietary Reference Intake recommends a daily intake of between 2300 and 3600 mg/day for 25-year-old males. Reference ranges for blood tests, showing blood content of<unk>  at far right in the spectrum.
Serum chloride
Plasma osmolality
Urine sodium
Mean arterial pressure
Urine osmolality
Blood urea nitrogen
Urine anion gap
Central venous pressure