Common Lab Values

Question 1

Lab values included in a liver panel

Answer 1

ALT/SGPT, AST/SGOT, GGT, and bilirubin

Question 2

_____ is more specific for liver injury than AST

Answer 2

ALT/SGPT

Question 3

Bicarbonate (CO2, HCO3-) normal range

Answer 3

21 - 28 mEq/L

Question 4

BUN:SCr ratio is _______ in dehydration

Answer 4

> 20:1

Question 5

BUN normal range

Answer 5

7 - 30 mg/dL

Question 6

Chloride normal range

Answer 6

95 - 108 mEq/L

Question 7

Creatinine normal range

Answer 7

0.7 - 1.4 mg/dL

Question 8

Hemoglobin normal range

Answer 8

Males: 13.8 - 17.2 g/dL
Females: 12 - 15.6 g/dL
(just remember Hgb = 14ish)

Question 9

Hematocrit normal range

Answer 9

Males: 41 - 50%
Females: 35 - 46%
(just remember Hct = 40 something)

Question 10

Hemoglobin A1C normal levels

Answer 10

<= 5.4
5.5 - 6.5 (pre-diabetes/high risk)
= 6.5 (diabetes)

Question 11

INR normal range

Answer 11

0.8 - 1.2

Question 12

Magnesium normal range

Answer 12

1.5 - 2.4 mEq/L

Critical: < 1 or > 4.7

Question 13

Methemoglobin can be caused by the following drugs: ___________ & __________

Answer 13

benzocaine & nitroprusside

Question 14

Phosphorous normal range

Answer 14

2.5 - 4.5 mg/dL

Question 15

Potassium normal range

Answer 15

3.5 - 5 mEq/L (extracellularly)

Question 16

Platelets normal range

Answer 16

150,000 - 450,000/microliter

Question 17

What is used to monitor heparin therapy?

Answer 17

PTT

Question 18

Sodium normal range

Answer 18

135 - 145 mEq/L

Question 19

Examples of granulocytes

Answer 19

Neutrophils (engulf and destroy bacteria & fungi, young ones are bands)
Eosinophils (parasites and allergies)
Basophils (allergies)

Question 20

Examples of lymphocytes

Answer 20

B cells (antibody-producing cells)
T cells (control the immune response)
NK cells (directly attack cells)

Question 21

Gentamicin and Tobramycin normal ranges (peak and trough)

Answer 21

Peak: life-threatening infections (8 - 10 mcg/mL)
Peak: serious infections (6 - 8 mcg/mL)
Peak: UTI (4 - 6 mcg/mL)
Peak: synergy vs. gram positives (3 - 5 mcg/mL)

Trough: life-threatening infections (1 - 2 mcg/mL)
Trough: serious infections (0.5 - 1 mcg/mL)
KNOW: trough < 2

Question 22

Amikacin normal ranges (peak and trough)

Answer 22

Peak: life-threatening infections (25 - 40 mcg/mL)
Peak: serious infections (20 - 25 mcg/mL)
Peak: UTI (15 - 20 mcg/mL)

Trough: < 8 mcg/mL

Amikacin levels are 3x higher than gent or tobramycin

Question 23

Vancomycin normal trough levels

Answer 23

> = 10 mcg/mL
15 mcg/mL for bugs with MIC = 1
15 - 20 mcg/mL for complicated infections

Continuous infusion random level of 22 - 26 mcg/mL