Lab Values Cheat Sheet – NCLEX
(All values are adults)
Serum Electrolytes
 Calcium (total): 8.6–10.2mg/L
 Magnesium: 1.3-2.3 mg/dL
 Potassium: 3.5-5.0
 Sodium: 135-145 mEq/L
 *Chloride: 96-106
 *Phosphorus: 3.0–4.5 mg/dL
Hematology Values
 RBC:
o Women: 4.2-5.4 million
o Men: 4.6-6.2 million
 WBC: 4,000–11,000
 Platelets: 150,000–450,000
 Hemoglobin:
o Women: 12–16 g/dL
o Men: 13–18 g/dL
 Hematocrit:
o Women: 35–47%
o Men: 42–52%
 PT: 9.5-12 secs
 PTT:
o low normal 20-25 secs
o high normal 32-39 secs
 INR: therapeutic is 2-3.5
 ESR:
o Man less than 50 yrs old: < 15 mm/h
o Man over 50: <20 mm/h
o Woman less than 50 yrs old: < 25 mm/h
o Woman over 50: < 30 mm/h
Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs)
 pH: 7.35-7.45
 pCO2: 35-45 mEq/L
 HCO3: 22-26 mEq/L
 *PaO2: 85-100%
 *SaO2: 95-99%
Chemistry Values
 Glucose (fasting): 60–110 mg/dL
 A1C: 4-6%
 Cholesterol (total): 150–200 mg/dL
 HDL (fasting):
o Men: 35-70 mg/dL
o Women: 35-85 mg/dL
 LDL (fasting): < 160 mg/dL
 Triglyceride: 100-200 mg/dL
 CK:
o Women: 30-135 units/L
o Men: 55-170 units/L
 Alkaline phosphatase: 30 to 120 U/L
Urine Chemistry
 *Specific gravity: 1.005–1.030
 BUN: 10–20 mg/dL
 Creatinine Clearance: 1.42-2.08 mL/min
 Serum creatinine: 0.7–1.4 mg/dL
 Uric acid (serum): > 6.5 mg/dL
 Urine uric acid: > 750 mg/24 hr
Liver Function:
 Enzymes:
o AST: 10-40
o ALT: 10-40
o LDH: 90-176 units/L
 Albumin: 3.5–5.5 g/dL
 Bilirubin: <1.0 mg/dL
o Total: 0.3-1.0 mg/dL
o Direct: 0.1-0.4 mg/dL
References:
* Value from Ignatavicius, D.D. & Workman, M.L. (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient centered
collaborative care (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders
All other values from NCLEX-RN Content Review Guide (5th ed.). (2017). New York, NY: Kaplan Nursing.