Method Description

Osmotic Gap:

Calculated result=290 mOsm/kg - 2(stool Na [mmol/L] + stool K [mmol/L])

Osmolality:

The depression of the freezing point of serum or other fluid is used to measure osmolality in most osmometers. The extent of lowering below 0° C (the freezing point of water) is a function of the concentration of substances dissolved in the serum. By definition, 1 milliosmole per kilogram lowers the freezing point 0.001858° C.(Schnidler EI, Brown SM, Scott MG: Electrolytes and Blood Gases. In: Rifai N, Horvath AR, Wittwer CT, eds: Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2018:610-612)

Sodium, Potassium, and Chloride:

The Roche cobas c 501 analyzer makes use of the unique properties of certain membrane materials to develop an electrical potential (electromotive force: EMF) for the measurements of ions in solution. The electrode has a selective membrane in contact with both the test solution and internal filling solution. The internal filling solution contains the test ion at a fixed concentration. The membrane EMF is determined by the difference in concentration of the test ion in the test solution and the internal filling solution. The EMF develops according to the Nernst equation for a specific ion in solution.(Package insert: ISE reagent. Roche Diagnostics; V14, 02/2018)

Phosphorus:

In the presence of sulfuric acid, inorganic phosphate and ammonium molybdate form an ammonium phosphomolybdate complex. The concentration of phosphomolybdate formed is measured photometrically and is directly proportional to the inorganic phosphate concentration.(Package insert: Phosphorus reagent. Roche Diagnostics; V9.0, 09/2019)

Magnesium:

In an alkaline solution, magnesium forms a purple complex with xylidyl blue, a diazonium salt. The magnesium concentration is measured photometrically via the decrease in the xylidyl blue absorbance.(Package insert: Magnesium reagent. Roche Diagnostics; V8.0, 01/2020)