What do your bicarbonate levels mean?
The short answer
Nobody we follow has said what your bicarbonate should be. It comes up on the shows, but never with a number.
Your lab prints 22–29 mmol/L. That range exists to catch disease, not to describe your best.
What bicarbonate measures
The buffer your blood uses to keep its acidity stable.
It shifts when your kidneys or lungs correct for something. It belongs with the rest of your acid-base picture.
Checked against MedlinePlus — Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in Blood.
Common questions
What is a normal bicarbonate level?
Most US labs print 22–29 mmol/L. Your report grades you against that range. It exists to catch disease, not to describe your best.
What does your bicarbonate number mean?
Under 22 mmol/L, your report marks it low. Between 22 and 29 it prints as normal. Over 29, your report marks it high. Nobody we follow has drawn a line inside that range.
What does the bicarbonate test measure?
The buffer your blood uses to keep its acidity stable. It shifts when your kidneys or lungs correct for something. It belongs with the rest of your acid-base picture.
Why is there no target here?
Because nobody we follow has named a number for bicarbonate. If that changes, it will be here.