Nursing Fundamentals - Lab Values

Yes!

It is still a good idea to memorize the values of common labs.

135 - 145 (mEq/L)

Critical: < 120 or > 160

98 - 106 (mEq/L)

3.5 - 5 (mmol/L)

Critical: < 3 or > 6

1.6 - 2.6 (mg/dL)

8.5 - 10.5 (mg/dL)

2.5 - 4.5 (mg/dL)

5,000 - 10,000 (million/µL)

Critical value: < 2,000 or > 40,000

male: 4.7 - 6.6 (million/µL)

female: 4.2 - 5.4 (million/µL)

male: 14-18 (g/dL)

female: 12-16 (g/dL)

pregnant: >11 (g/dL)

male: 42 - 52%

female: 37 - 47%

pregnant: >33%

150,000 - 400,000 (million/µL)

Critical value: < 50,000 or > 1 million

10 - 20 (mg/dL)

critical BUN: > 100

0.6 - 1.2 (mg/dL)

Critical: > 4

> 90 (mL/min)

Average is 125 (mL/min)

< 14 (mg/dL), newborn is managed at home with sunlight and increased feedings

> 14 (mg/dL), newborn is hospitalized

> 20 (mg/dL), is considered toxic

Adult bilirubin is about 1-2, newborn bilirubin is always a bit high around 10.

ALT: 4 - 36 (U/L)

AST: 0 - 25 (U/L)

ALP: 20 - 140 (U/L)

A mild elevation will be 2 - 3 times higher than normal

A severe elevation can be in the hundreds or thousands

< 200 (mg/dL)

male: >40 (1.0 mmol/L)

female: >50 (1.3 mmol/L)

>60 (1.6 mmol/L) is ideal

< 100 (mg/dL)

6 - 8.3 (g/dL)

15 - 56 (µmol/L)

3.5 - 5 (g/dL)

PT normal/control: 11 - 12.5 seconds

1.5 - 2 times the control/normal value

Example 11 x 1.5 = 16.5

12.5 x 2 = 25

Therapeutic level: 16.5 - 25 seconds

Labs are different and may have a different control. If there is not a control number indicated use 11 - 12.5. The higher the number the less risk that a blood clot will form. But it also puts the client at risk for bleeding.

normal: 0.8 - 1.1

therapeutic: 2 - 3

Therapeutic: the higher the number the less risk that a blood clot will form. But it also puts the client at risk for bleeding.

aPTT normal/control: 25 - 35 seconds

aPTT: 1.5 - 2.5 times the control/normal value

Example: 25 x 1.5 = 37.5 second
35 x 2.5 = 87.5 seconds

Therapeutic level: 37.5 - 87.5 seconds

Labs are different and may have a different control. Some labs use 20-30 and some use 30-40. If there is not a control number indicated use 25-35 seconds. The higher the number the less risk that a blood clot will form. ​But it also puts the client at risk for bleeding.

0 - 160 (U/L)

non-diabetic: 4 - 5.7%

good diabetes control: \< 7%

poor diabetes control: > 9%

fasting: 70 - 110 mg/dL (3.9 - 6.1 mmol/L) - no food for at least 8 hours before the test

random: ≤ 200 mg/dL (≤ 11.1 mmol/L)- may have eaten before the test

critical: \< 50 or > 400 mg/dL (\< 2.8 - > 22.2 mmol/L)

0 - 100 (pg/mL)

0 - 0.04 (ng/mL)

22 - 198 (U/L)

2.4 - 7 (mg/dL)

1 - 2 (ng/mL)
2 or greater is considered toxicity

0.6 - 1.2 (mmol/L)
2 or greater is considered toxicity.

10 - 20 (mcg/mL)

Greater than 20 is considered toxic.

12 - 20 breaths per minute

95% - 100%

60 - 100 beats per minute

strong and regular

90/60 to 120/80 (mmHg)

systolic is the first number

diastolic is the second number

96.8° - 100.4° F

| (36° - 38° C)

Red blood cell count

Hemoglobin

Hematocrit

White blood cell count

glucose

calcium

potassium

bicarbonate

chloride

BUN

creatinine

glucose

calcium

potassium

bicarbonate

chloride

BUN

creatinine

albumin

total protein

ALP and AST

bilirubin