Dialysate must have a pH close to the patient's normal blood pH so it does not change the blood's pH.

• A. Normal pH
• B. Blood temperature
• C. Blood glucose level
• D. Sodium level

Answer: (A)

Maintaining acid-base balance during dialysis is achieved by keeping the dialysate pH close to the patient’s normal blood pH. The dialyzer brings blood and dialysate into contact across a semipermeable membrane, so ions and hydrogen ions diffuse to equalize concentrations. If the dialysate is acidic, hydrogen ions would diffuse into the blood, lowering blood pH; if it’s too alkaline, bicarbonate or hydroxide would diffuse into the blood, raising pH. By using a dialysate with a pH similar to normal blood pH (around 7.35–7.45, typically near 7.4), we minimize these shifts and keep the patient’s blood pH stable while also supporting the bicarbonate-based balance used to correct metabolic acidosis. Other dialysate factors like temperature, glucose, or sodium affect different aspects of treatment and do not address maintaining pH parity with blood.