Basic Lab Data

Question 1

Normal pH range

Answer 1

7.35 - 7.45

Question 2

Normal CO2 range

Answer 2

35 - 45 mmHg

Question 3

Normal HCO3 range

Answer 3

22 - 26 mmol/L

Question 4

Normal Base Excess range

Answer 4

+3 to -3 mmol/L

Question 5

Normal PaO2 range

Answer 5

80 - 100 mmHg

Question 6

Normal SaO2 range

Answer 6

90% to 100%

Question 7

Normal AG (anion gap) range

Answer 7

8 - 16 mEq/L

Question 8

Normal hemoglobin ranges

Answer 8

Male: 14 - 18 g/dL
Female: 12 - 16 g/dL

Question 9

Normal hematocrit ranges

Answer 9

Male: 40% - 54%
Female: 36% - 46%

Question 10

Normal RBC range

Answer 10

3.5 - 6 million

Question 11

What is the “Rule of Three” as it pertains to blood lab values?

Answer 11

RBC = 5
Hemoglobin = 15
Hematocrit = 45

Question 12

Normal Sodium (Na+) range

Answer 12

135 - 145 mEq/L

Question 13

Normal Potassium (K+) range

Answer 13

3.5 - 5 mEq/L

Question 14

Normal Chloride (Cl-) range

Answer 14

96 - 106 mEq/L

Question 15

Normal Calcium (Ca++) range

Answer 15

9 - 11 mg/dL

Question 16

Normal Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) range

Answer 16

7 - 21 mg/dL

Question 17

Normal Creatine ranges

Answer 17

Male: 0.6 - 1.4 mg/dL
Female: 0.6 - 1.1 mg/dL

Question 18

Normal D-dimer range

Answer 18

< 0.5 - 1 mcg/mL OR < 500 - 1000 mcg/L

Question 19

Normal Troponin range

Answer 19

0.0 - < 0.5 ng/mL

Question 20

_______ is the probability that a test will result in a positive result when the condition is present in a patient.

Answer 20

Sensitivity

Question 21

______ is the probability that a test will be negative in the absence of a disease.

Answer 21

Specificity

Question 22

T/F: As respirations increase, you would expect the pH to decrease.

Answer 22

False

Question 23

T/F: As respirations decrease, you would expect hydrogen ions to increase.

Answer 23

True

Question 24

What are the two primary acid-excreting organs?

Answer 24

Lungs and Kidneys

Question 25

Which of the following conditions would result in a left shift (alkalosis)?

a) Increased temperature
b) Hypoxia
c) Hypercarbia
d) Hyperbaric oxygen treatment

Answer 25

b) Hypoxia

Question 26

Your patient has a core temperature of 105° F (40.5° C). Would you expect to see a right shift (acidosis) or a left shift (alkalosis)?

Answer 26

Right shift (acidosis)

Question 27

Which of the following would result in hypercapnia?

a) V/Q mismatch
b) Hyperventilation
c) Use of an FiO2 of 1.0
d) Increasing PEEP and TV

Answer 27

a) V/Q mismatch

Question 28

You observe lab values that show an increase in pH, a decrease in PaCO2, and no change in HCO3. Based on this information, you can assume the patient is in what acid base condition?

Answer 28

Respiratory Alkalosis

Question 29

You observe lab values that show a decrease in pH, an increase in PaCO2, and no change in HCO3. Based on this information, you can assume the patient is in what acid base condition?

Answer 29

Respiratory Acidosis

Question 30

You are treating a patient with a suspected C2 fracture of the spinal cord. What acid base condition would the patient be at risk of?

Answer 30

This patient is at risk of respiratory acidosis because of decreased ventilations.

Question 31

You are transporting a 24-year-old body builder who overdosed on diuretics in an attempt to slim down for a competition. What acid base condition would this patient be at risk of?

Answer 31

Metabolic Alkalosis

Question 32

Your patient is on a transport ventilator. The patient’s end-tidal CO2 is 26mmHg. What would you suspect is causing this?

Answer 32

You are hyperventilating the patient and blowing off the CO2.

Question 33

T/F: If the HCO3 moves opposite the pH, the metabolic system is compensating for a respiratory imbalance.

Answer 33

True

Question 34

T/F: If pH goes down, the PaCO2 goes up, this indicates respiratory alkalosis.

Answer 34

False

Question 35

What acid base condition would you suspect with a patient with the following lab values:

pH = 7.43
PaCO2 = 60
HCO3 = 32

Answer 35

This is a mixed gas. It is BOTH respiratory acidosis and metabolic alkalosis.

Question 36

Your 32-year-old male patient has a hemoglobin of 5. If this value low, high or normal?

Answer 36

Low

Question 37

You are transporting a 25-year-old female who is 72 hours post-partum. She is in full disseminated intravascular coagulation. What level would your expect her platelets to be at?

Answer 37

Her platelets would be low.

Question 38

Which tests measures the effectiveness of Coumadin-type anticoagulant medications?

Answer 38

Prothrombin time (PT) and International normalized ratio (INR)

Question 39

Which test is most appropriate for determining renal function?

Answer 39

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

Question 40

You are treating a 62-year-old male patient with a gastrointestinal bleed. The patient’s potassium is 6.5 mEq/L. Is this potassium level low, high or normal?

Answer 40

This potassium level is elevated.

Question 41

What cardiac biomarker is considered most specific for myocardial damage?

Answer 41

Troponin I

Question 42

If CO2 moves opposite of the pH, this indicates:

Answer 42

a respiratory imbalance

Question 43

If CO2 moves in the same direction as pH, this indicates:

Answer 43

the respiratory system is compensating for a metabolic imbalance

Question 44

If HCO3 moves in the same direction as pH, this indicates:

Answer 44

a metabolic imbalance

Question 45

If HCO3 moves opposite of the pH, this indicates:

Answer 45

that the metabolic system is compensating for a respiratory imbalance

Question 46

If pH goes down and the PaCO2 goes up, this indicates:

Answer 46

respiratory acidosis

Question 47

If pH goes up and the PaCO2 goes down, this indicates:

Answer 47

respiratory alkalosis

Question 48

If both the pH and HCO3 goes up, this indicates:

Answer 48

metabolic alkalosis

Question 49

If both the pH and HCO3 goes down, this indicates:

Answer 49

metabolic acidosis

Question 50

What lab value is best used for checking heparin efficacy?

Answer 50

Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT)