In the case of metabolic acidosis, what other value is likely to be out of range?

In metabolic acidosis, the bicarbonate (HCO3) level is typically reduced. This condition arises from an increased hydrogen ion concentration in the blood, which can occur due to various factors such as kidney failure, diabetic ketoacidosis, or severe diarrhea. The compensation mechanism in response to metabolic acidosis involves the lungs increasing respiratory rate to blow off carbon dioxide, but the primary disturbance lies in the bicarbonate levels, which serve as a buffer in maintaining the body's pH. Therefore, decreased bicarbonate is indicative of metabolic acidosis and is the value that is most likely to be out of range during this condition.