Table 1.

Ion concentrations in zero bicarbonate dialysate

	Normal plasma	Zero bicarbonate dialysate
pHa	7.35–7.45	10.0
Sodium (mmol/L) [18]	136–145	134
Potassium (mmol/L) [18]	3.5–5.0	3.5
Calciumb (mmol/L) [18]	2.2–2.6	0
Magnesium (mmol/L) [18]	0.8–1.2	1.0
Chloride (mmol/L) [18]	98–106	116 (135.6 final concentration)c
Phosphated (mmol/L) [18]	2.0–4.5	0.5
Lactate (mmol/L)	<2.0	3.0
HCO3 (mmol/L)a	22–26	0

^aFor a pCO₂ of 40 mmHg

^bTotal calcium

^cModelled chloride concentration was 116 mmol/L. HCl was added so that the dialysate could be analyzed on the blood gas machine resulting in a final concentration of 135.6 mmol/L

^dPO₄