{"id":"base-excess","name":"Base Excess (Base Deficit)","shortName":"Base Excess","aliases":["Base Excess","BE","BE(B)","BEact","Base Deficit","Base Excess/Deficit","cBase(B)","BE, Arterial","Base Excess, Arterial","Base Excess (Actual)","Base Excess, Calculated","BE (ABG)","BD"],"abbreviations":["BE","BD","BE(B)","cBase(B)"],"loinc":[{"code":"1925-7","primary":true},{"code":"1927-3","primary":false},{"code":"11555-0","primary":false},{"code":"1926-5","primary":false}],"specimen":"calculated","units":[{"ucum":"mmol/L","display":"mmol/L"},{"ucum":"meq/L","display":"mEq/L"}],"referenceRanges":[{"population":"Adults","low":-2,"high":2,"unit":"mmol/L","unitDisplay":"mmol/L","note":"Adult interval of -2 to +2 mmol/L. One review gives it for base excess on an arterial gas and says venous values are similar; another gives it for standard base excess. Northwell Health Labs and OHSU print the same -2 to +2 for arterial samples (OHSU prints -3 to +3 for venous). Some instruments and labs print slightly different limits, so use the range on your own report first. A negative value is a base deficit and may be printed as BD or -BE. Adults only; newborn and child ranges differ and are not included.","sources":[{"title":"Mastering blood gas interpretation: A practical guide for primary care providers","url":"https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v67i1.6058","publisher":"South African Family Practice","year":2025},{"title":"Base Excess and Beyond: Evolving Concepts in Acid-base Analysis","url":"https://doi.org/10.4274/TJAR.2025.252127","publisher":"Turkish Journal of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation","year":2026},{"title":"Blood Gas Arterial","url":"https://labs.northwell.edu/epic/test/114134","publisher":"Northwell Health Laboratories"},{"title":"Blood Gases, Comprehensive","url":"https://www.ohsu.edu/node/5762646","publisher":"Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Laboratory"}]}],"review":{"status":"ai-verified","label":"AI-verified against cited sources. Awaiting expert review","lastReviewed":"2026-10-03"},"summary":"A calculated number showing extra acid or base in your blood, apart from breathing. A negative value is a base deficit.","url":"https://bloodtesttracker.com/markers/base-excess","notice":"Information, not medical advice. Ranges differ between labs, so the range on your own report is the one your result is judged against."}