Educational information only. At Precursor, blood testing is requested and reviewed by a clinician and considered alongside your history and other markers, not as a stand-alone diagnosis. Testing is performed in NATA-accredited laboratories to ISO 15189 standards.

What is sodium?

Sodium is the main electrolyte in the fluid outside your cells, and it plays a central role in balancing water, supporting nerve signals and maintaining blood pressure. Your body regulates it tightly through the kidneys and hormones, keeping it within a narrow range.

Why it matters

Because sodium is so tightly controlled, a value outside the usual range is often more about water balance than salt intake. It is a core electrolyte on a kidney and metabolic panel, and shifts can reflect hydration, kidney function or hormonal signals.

What your results can mean

Higher than optimal

A high sodium usually reflects a relative lack of water rather than too much salt, often linked to dehydration. It is interpreted alongside your hydration and other electrolytes.

Lower than optimal

A low sodium is one of the more common electrolyte findings and can have many causes, from excess fluid to hormonal factors. Because it can matter clinically, it is always reviewed by a clinician.

Reference ranges in Australia

Sodium is reported in millimoles per litre (mmol/L). As a general guide, a value in the region of 135 to 145 mmol/L is often considered within range. Read your result against the range on your own report.

Test your electrolytes with Precursor

Sodium is read alongside your other electrolytes and kidney markers. At Precursor it is measured as part of Full Advanced Bloods, a single clinician-reviewed blood draw covering your kidney, heart, metabolic, hormonal, liver, thyroid and nutrient markers together, giving you and your clinician a broad baseline to understand and track.