How Bicarbonate appears on your report
Look for Bicarbonate. The result is normally shown in mmol/L, next to the reference interval used by the laboratory that ran the test.
Note the collection date before you compare it with anything, along with the context that matters for this marker: breathing, kidney function, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration and medicines can affect it. Read it with the other electrolytes.
Bicarbonate range in Australia
The harmonised Australian adult reference interval for Bicarbonate is 22–32 mmol/L. Vector tracks against the same range.
Vector’s optimal range is the band the app tracks against and the one printed in the doctor report. Why the two differ. Reference interval source: AACB / RCPA Common Reference Intervals.
What to read alongside Bicarbonate
A single marker rarely explains itself. These results are commonly interpreted together with Bicarbonate, and Vector keeps them within reach of each other as your record grows.
Tracking Bicarbonate over time
One Bicarbonate result is a single point. Import the report into Vector, check the extracted value, unit and collection date, and it becomes the start of a series instead — with each later report adding a dated point you can actually compare against.
Further reading
Bicarbonate is read the same way every other result on the report is. These two guides cover that method rather than this marker:
- How to read an Australian pathology report — A practical guide to dates, units, reference intervals and the context that belongs beside an Australian pathology result.
- Pathology report reference ranges: what they mean — Understand the laboratory interval, Australian guidance and the product context Vector adds to a result over time.
Common questions
What is the optimal Bicarbonate level?
Vector treats 22–32 mmol/L as the optimal range for Bicarbonate. For this marker Vector's optimal range matches the harmonised Australian reference interval, so clearing the laboratory range and sitting in Vector's target are the same thing.
What is the normal range for Bicarbonate in Australia?
The harmonised Australian adult reference interval for Bicarbonate is 22–32 mmol/L. This interval is harmonised across participating Australian and New Zealand laboratories, so it does not change between providers.
What unit is Bicarbonate reported in on Australian pathology reports?
Bicarbonate is usually reported in mmol/L on Australian pathology reports. The performing laboratory prints a reference interval in the same unit beside the result, and that interval is the one that governs your individual result.
What can change your Bicarbonate result?
Breathing, kidney function, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration and medicines can affect it. Read it with the other electrolytes.
Sources
- RCPA Manual: BicarbonateAustralian pathology reference for this test and related result context.
- Kidney Health Australia: eGFRAustralian consumer context for kidney filtration and follow-up.
Published 2 August 2026 · Updated 3 August 2026 · Author Vector