In the assessment of metabolic disorders, a primary indicator for metabolic acidosis would be?

A primary indicator for metabolic acidosis is low bicarbonate levels. In metabolic acidosis, there is an excess of hydrogen ions (H+) or a loss of bicarbonate (HCO3-) in the body. Bicarbonate is crucial for maintaining the body's acid-base balance, as it acts as a buffer to neutralize acids. When bicarbonate levels drop, it indicates that the body is unable to adequately neutralize acids, leading to a state of acidosis.

In the context of metabolic disorders, low bicarbonate levels can result from various conditions, such as renal failure, diabetic ketoacidosis, or excessive diarrhea. Each of these conditions leads to an increase in acid levels in the blood or a reduction in bicarbonate availability, compelling the assessment to focus heavily on bicarbonate concentrations to diagnose and evaluate the severity of metabolic acidosis.

The other options presented do not serve as primary indicators of metabolic acidosis. High bicarbonate levels would typically suggest a state of metabolic alkalosis, high chloride levels may occur in various metabolic disturbances, and normal glucose levels do not specifically indicate a metabolic acidosis state. Thus, low bicarbonate levels are indeed a clear sign pointing toward the presence of metabolic acidosis.