Name of Test
Purpose
Normal Range
High Results Mean
Low Results Mean
BUN
(Blood Urea Nitrogen)
Indirect measure
kidney function
10 – 20
Low blood volume/
dehydration, shock, HF,
kidney disease, drug toxicity
Liver failure, cirrhosis,
overhydration, nephrotic
syndrome
Creatinine (Cr)
Diagnose impaired
kidney function
Male: 0.6 – 1.2
Female: 0.5–1.1
Kidney disease, heart failure,
muscle disease
Debilitation, decreased
muscle mass
Specific Gravity
(Urinalysis)
Measure urine
particle
concentration
1.010 – 1.030
Dehydration, pituitary tumor,
hypotension, HF, liver
failure
Distal renal tubular
disease, polycystic kidney
disease, overhydration,
diabetes insipidus
Amylase (AMS)
Detects & monitors
pancreatitis
60 – 120
Pancreatitis
Too much insulin
production/overdose,
hypothyroidism,
Addison's, liver disease
Glucose (serum)
Blood sugar level
70 – 105
Diabetes, stress response,
Cushing's, hyperthyroidism,
acute/chronic pancreatitis
Cholesterol (serum)
Risk for CAD
< 200
Family high cholesterol/lipid
Malabsorption,malnutrition
CBC
RBC
Evaluate anemia
Male: 4.5 – 5.3
Female: 4.1–5.1
Illness, high altitude,
congenital heart disease,
COPD
Anemia, hemorrhage, liver
cirrhosis
WBC
Evaluates infection
or
immunosuppression
5,000 –
10,000
Infection, leukemic cancer,
steroid usage, severe sepsis
Drug toxicity, bone
marrow failure,
overwhelming infections,
lupus
Rapid indirect
measurement of
RBC count
Indirect
measurement of red
blood cell number
and volume
Male: 13 – 18
Female: 12 – 16
Congenital heart disease,
dehydration, COPD
Anemia, cirrhosis,
hemorrhage
Male: 42 –52%
Female36–46%
Congenital heart disease,
dehydration, COPD
Anemia, cirrhosis,
hemorrhage
150,000 –
400,000
Malignant disorders,
rheumatoid arthritis, anemia
Hemorrhage, infection,
cancer therapy
Hemoglobin (Hgb)
Hematocrit (Hct)
Platelet
Blood ability to clot
Coagulation Studies
PT
Tests extrinsic
clotting
11 – 15 seconds
Tests coagulation
mechanisms
60 – 70 seconds
(Activated PTT)
More sensitive than
PTT
30 – 45 seconds
INR
Test for coagulation
(Prothrombin time)
PTT
(Partial thromboplastin time)
APTT
(International Normalized Ratio)
D-Dimer
> 1.5 – 2.0
*Higher for prosthetic valve
Assess for
breakdown of a
venous clot (DVT,
PE)
< 0.5
Anticoagulation therapy,
DIC, hepatic disease,
malabsorption
Deficiency factors,
anticoagulation therapy
Blood too thin, warfarin
(Coumadin) therapy
DIC, recent surgery, active
or recent bleeding, TE,
pregnancy, liver disease,
inflammation, malignancy,
hypercoagulable states
Digitalis therapy, diuretic
action, vitamin K therapy
Extensive cancer, DIC
Blood too thick
Electrolytes
Calcium (Ca)
Parathyroid function
& Ca2+ metabolism
8.6 – 10.2
Hyperparathyroidism,
metastatic tumor to bone,
Paget's disease
Chloride (Cl)
Acid-base status and
hydration status
97 – 107
Dehydration,
hyperventilation, DM
Potassium (K)
Fluid/Electrolyte
status, heart
function
3.5 – 5.0
Excessive intake,
kidney disease/failure,
Addison's, DKA
Sodium (Na)
Fluid/Electrolyte
status
135 – 145
Increased intake,
Cushing's, excessive
sweating, diabetes insipidus
Magnesium (Mg)
Ca/Phosphorus
balance
1.3 – 2.3
Renal failure, elderly,
antacid overuse
Hypoparathyroidism, renal
failure, vitamin D defic.
Overhydration, HF, pyloric
obstruction, respiratory
acidosis
Deficient intake, diuretics
(thiazide), Cushing's,
hyperadlosteronism,
steroid therapy,
malignant HTN, cirrhosis
with ascites, chronic
diarrhea/vomiting
Decreased dietary intake,
Addison's, excessive water
intake, vomiting/diarrhea,
HF, burns, thoracentesis,
ascites, SIADH
Profound GI losses
(suction, diarrhea), small
bowel changes, alcoholics,
loop diuretics, antibiotics
Liver Function Tests (LFTs)
4 – 36
Hepatitis, hepatic necrosis,
cirrhosis, hepatic tumor,
obstructive jaundice
0 – 35
Heart diseases, liver
diseases, skeletal muscle
diseases, anemia, pancreatitis
Acute renal disease,
beriberi, pregnancy,
diabetic ketoacidosis,
chronic renal dialysis
Detect & monitor
diseases of the liver
or bone
30 – 120
Primary cirrhosis, liver
tumor, Paget’s disease,
Rheumatoid arthritis,
myocardial infarction
Scurvy, pernicious anemia,
malnutrition,
hypophosphatemia, milkalkali syndrome
Albumin
Diagnose, evaluate,
monitor cancer,
immune dx, liver
dx, nutrition, edema
3.5 – 5
Dehydration
Malnutrition, liver disease,
pregnancy, overhydration
Bilirubin
Evaluates liver
function and
patients with
hemolytic anemias
0.3 – 1.0
Gallstones, extrahepatic duct
obstruction, liver metastasis,
cholestasis from drugs,
Dubin-Johnson syndrome,
anemias, cirrhosis
Ammonia (serum)
Supports diagnosis
of liver disease
80 – 110
Liver disease, Reye's
Syndrome
ALT
Identify diseases of
the liver
AST
(Aspartate
transaminase)
Evaluate suspected
coronary artery
occlusive disease or
hepatocellular
disease
ALP
(Alkaline
phosphatase)
Essential or malignant
hypertension