LAB VALUES
CATEGORY
GLUCOSE
• 70 - 110
BICARBONATE
• 22-26
GLUCOSE
• 70 - 110
pH
• 7.35 - 7.45
BUN
• 8-25
LOW
• Hypoglycemia is
commonly caused by
receiving too much
insulin, adrenal issues
or malnutrition
• < 40 = critical
• Can be caused by
damage to the
kidneys and their
subsequent inability
to reabsorb HCO3
HIGH
• Hyperglycemia can
be caused by
diabetes, cushings
and pancreatitis
• > -350 = critical
• The kidneys
reabsorb bicarbonate
elevating the pH in the
blood to compensate
for acidosis
• HCO3 is a buffer and
stabilizer of pH
• Hypoglycemia is
commonly caused by
receiving too much
insulin, adrenal issues
or malnutrition
• < 40 = critical
• Hyperglycemia can
be caused by
diabetes, cushings
and pancreatitis
• > -350 = critical
• Low pH is acidosis
• Can be caused by
an excess of CO2 in
the blood or by a loss
of HCO3 in the kidneys
• Increased pH is
alkalosis
• It's caused by
excess HCO3 or a
decrease in CO2
• CO2 can decrease
d/t hyperventilation
• BUN is a byproduct of
metabolism that
indicates renal function
+ hydration
• Lower BUN can be
caused by a low protein
diet, liver failure and
fluid overload
• Increased BUN can
be caused by CHF a
61 bleed, hypovolemia,
kidney failure,
pyelonephritis, heart
attack, excess protein
in the GI tract or
shock
CATEGORY
GLUCOSE
• 70 - 110
BICARBONATE
• 22-26
GLUCOSE
• 70 - 110
pH
• 7.35 - 7.45
BUN
• 8-25
LOW
• Hypoglycemia is
commonly caused by
receiving too much
insulin, adrenal issues
or malnutrition
• < 40 = critical
• Can be caused by
damage to the
kidneys and their
subsequent inability
to reabsorb HCO3
HIGH
• Hyperglycemia can
be caused by
diabetes, cushings
and pancreatitis
• > -350 = critical
• The kidneys
reabsorb bicarbonate
elevating the pH in the
blood to compensate
for acidosis
• HCO3 is a buffer and
stabilizer of pH
• Hypoglycemia is
commonly caused by
receiving too much
insulin, adrenal issues
or malnutrition
• < 40 = critical
• Hyperglycemia can
be caused by
diabetes, cushings
and pancreatitis
• > -350 = critical
• Low pH is acidosis
• Can be caused by
an excess of CO2 in
the blood or by a loss
of HCO3 in the kidneys
• Increased pH is
alkalosis
• It's caused by
excess HCO3 or a
decrease in CO2
• CO2 can decrease
d/t hyperventilation
• BUN is a byproduct of
metabolism that
indicates renal function
+ hydration
• Lower BUN can be
caused by a low protein
diet, liver failure and
fluid overload
• Increased BUN can
be caused by CHF a
61 bleed, hypovolemia,
kidney failure,
pyelonephritis, heart
attack, excess protein
in the GI tract or
shock
CATEGORY
CREATININE
• 0.6-1.5
HEMOGLOBIN
• Male: 13-18%
• Female: 12-16%
HEMATOCRIT
• Male: 13-18%
• Female: 12-16%
PLATELET
• 150k-350k
WBC
• 4300-10800
LOW
HIGH
• Lower creatinine can be
cause by spinal cord
injuries or abrupt
decreases in movements
as it is also byproduct of
metabolism creatinine is
excreted by the kidney
• Can indicate kidney
failure, dehydration,
rhabdomyolysis,
hyperthyroidism,
muscular dystrophy,
or an obstructed
urinary tract
• Low Hgb is usually
caused by blood loss,
anemia, bone marrow,
suppression, leukemia
and renal problems
• Can be caused by
living in high altitude,
long term smoking,
tumors, polycythemia
vera and erythropoietin
use
• Higher hematocrit
can be due to over
dehydration, blood
loss, chemo and lead
poisoning
• Hematocrit usually
directly correlates to
hemoglobin and
should be 3xHgb
• Low platelets put the
patient at a very high
risk for bleeding and
can be caused DIC,
aplastic anemia
• Increased platelet
can be caused by
myelogenous
leukemia, recent
spleen removal,
inflammation
• Neutropenia is usually
caused by bone marrow
deficiency, chemo drugs,
viral disease, splenic
deficiency and radiation
• Infection, leukemia,
inflammatory
diseases and stress
can all cause an
increased WBC count
CATEGORY
ALT
• 13-69
LOW
HIGH
• Low ALT is expected
and shows normal liver
function
• High levels of ALT
can an early indicator
of liver disease.
• It is more specific of
a test that AST
• Low levels of AST in
the blood are
expected and normal
• High levels of AST can
indicate chronic-acute
hepatitis cirrhosis and
other liver disorders
• Because the liver
produces albumin, low
albumin usually means
liver damage or cirrhosis
• Albumin can also be
low in burns due to third
spacing
• Dehydration can
cause high albumin
result due to less
water in the blood
• A decrease in total
protein can be caused
by liver disease,
hemorrhaging, diarrhea
and vomiting
• High total protein
can be seen with
chronic inflammation,
bone marrow
disorders, hepatitis or
HIV
AST
• 5-40
ALBUMIN
• 3.4-5.0
TOTAL PROTEIN
• 6.4 - 8.0