Excess Bicarbonate

• Alkalosis may be caused by excessive amounts of bicarbonate in the blood, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
  
  

Chloride Loss

• Patients may develop alkalosis after a loss of chloride that may occur when a person vomits excessively.
  
  

Potassium Loss

• The kidneys can cause alkalosis to develop when the body has insufficient levels of potassium. Potassium levels can become low when a patient takes diuretic drugs.
  
  

Compensated Alkalosis

• Compensated alkalosis can occur when abnormal bicarbonate and carbon dioxide levels persist after the body returns to an otherwise normal acid and base balance.
  
  

Tests

• Doctors may use several urine tests to measure alkalosis including a urinalysis test, a urine pH test and litmus paper urine test.