Standard base deficit is a calculated value based on blood gas measurement as a gauge of metabolic acidosis. It approximates the amount of base that must be added to in vitro blood at 37°C and PaCO2 of 40 mm Hg to bring the pH to 7.4. Like lactate, elevated base deficit has been associated with mortality and poor clinical outcomes in shock states, especially in trauma. However, base deficit is affected by many factors. It can also be confounded by nonperfusion related conditions including sodium and chloride concentrations, hypoalbuminemia, respiration, exogenous sodium bicarbonate, or sodium chloride administration🏳️