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
OTHER LAB VALUES
Vital Signs
• Blood Pressure
- Systolic: 120 mmHg
- Diastolic: 80 mmHg
• Heart Rate: 60-100 BPM
• Respirations: 12 - 20 Breaths / Minute
• Oxygen: 95 - 100%
• Temperature: 97.8 - 99°F Vital Signs
Renal
• Calcium: 9 - 11 mg/dL
• Magnesium: 1.5 - 2.5 mg/dL
• Specific gravity: 1.010 - 1.030
• Phosphorus: 2.5 - 4.5 mg/dL
• GFR: 90 - 120 mL/min
ABG's
• PaCO3: 35 - 45 mmHg
• PaO2: 80 - 100 mmHg
• HCO3: 22 - 26 mEq/L
Pancreas
• Amylase: 30 - 110 U/L
• Lipase: 0 - 150 U/L
COAGs
• PT: 10 - 13 sec
• PTT: 25 - 35 sec
• aPTT: 30 - 40 sec (heparin)
• INR
- NOT ON Warfarin < 1 sec
- ON Warfarin 2 to 3 sec
Basal Metabolic Panel (BMP)
• Sodium: 135 - 145 mEq/L
• Potassium: 3.5 - 5.0 mEq/L
• Chloride: 95 - 105 mEq/L
• Calcium: 9 - 11 mg/dL
• Albumin: 3.4 - 5.4 g/dL
• Total protein: 6.2 - 8.2 g/dL
Liver Function Test (LFT)
• ALP: 40- 120 U/L
• Bilirubin: 0.1 - 1.2 mg/dL
Lipid Panel
• Total Cholesterol: <200 mg/dL
• Triglyceride: <150 mg/dL
• LDL: <100 mg/dL (Bad Cholesterol)
• HDL: >60 mg/dL (Good Cholesterol)
HbA1c
• Non-diabetic: 4 - 5.6%
• Pre-diabetic: 5.7 - 6.4%
• Diabetic: >6.5%
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
• WBC: 4500 - 11000 / µL
• RBC: 4.5 – 5.5 million/µL
• PLT: 150000 - 450000/µL
Others...
• MAP: 70 - 100 mmHg
• ICP (Intracranial Pressure): 5 - 15 mmHg
• BMI: 18.5 - 24.9
• Glascow coma scale:
- Best: 15
- Mild: 13 - 15
Measured Therapeutic Antidote
- Moderate: 9 - 12
with
Range
- Severe: 3 - 8
Protamine
Heparin aPTT 1.5 - 2.0 x normal
Sulfate
"control" value
Warfarin INR 1.5 - 2.0 x normal Vitamin K
"control" value
ARTERIAL BLOOD GAS INTERPRETATION
• Know your Laboratory Values
Acidosis
Therapeuti
c Range
Antidote
pH
<7.35
7.35 - 7.45
>7.45
CO2
>45
35-45
<35
HCO3
<22
22-26
>26
• Determine if it is a respiratory
or metabolic problem
Alkalosis
• Respiratory
- pH is high and CO2 is low
• Metabolic
- pH is high and HCO3 is high
Acidosis
• Opposite
- pH is low and CO2 is high
• Equal
- pH is low and HCO3 is low
• Determine if it is an
uncompensated, partially
compensated, or fully compensated
• Uncompensated: If the pH is out of
range & CO2 or HCO3 is in range
• Partially Compensated: If CO2 &
HCO3 are both out of range & the pH
is out of range
• Fully Compensated: If pH is in
range (7.35 - 7.45)
LABORATORY VALUES MEMORY TRICKS
Potassium (3.5-5)
• Bananas:
-There are about 3-5 in
every bunch and you
want them half ripe (1/2)
So think 3.5 - 5.0
Phosphorus (2.5-4.5)
• Phos: 4 letters
• Us: 2 (me + you = 2)
Don't forget
about the .5
Calcium (9-11)
• Just call 911!!!
Magnesium (1.5-2.5)
• Magnifying glass
you see 1.5-2.5 bigger
than normal.
WOW! It looks
BIG!!!
Chloride (95-105)
• Think of a
chlorinated pool
that you want to go
in when it's SUPER
HOT!: 95-905°F
BUN (7-20mg/dL)
• Think of hamburger BUNs...
Hamburgers can cost anywhere
from 7$ - 20$
Creatine (0.6-1.2mg/dL)
• This is the same value as
LITHIUM's therapeutic range
(0.6-1.2 mmol/L) Lithium is
excreted almost solely by the
kidneys and creatine is a value
that tests how well your kidneys
filter
Sodium (135-145)
• Use the letters “od” in sodium to
remember “odd” numbers.
• The first 3 odd numbers are 1, 3,
and 5 add 10
135 + 10 = 145
Glucose (70-100 mg/dL)
• Energy gets
low at the age
of 70-100
AST (9-40 U/L)
• (AST) School = 9AM - 4PM
ALT (7-60 U/L)
• (ALT) Labor = 7AM - 6PM
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