Performed at authorized locations by point of care operators. Serum and Urine osmolality are included.
Hyper osmolality in serum is most often associated with diabetes mellitus, and uremia. Abnormally low ratios occur in disease states such as; lymphomas, cancer, liver failure, shock, acute infections, and myocardial infarctions. In special cases of acute toxicity due to overdose of drugs, findings of normal serum sodium and high serum osmolality may be considered as an indication for dialysis. In dehydration, where water loss exceeds salt loss, the osmolality and the serum sodium increase, but the ratio stays normal. Examples are prolonged diarrhea and peritonitis or intestinal obstruction in which fluid has been sequestered outside the vascular system.