HESI Lab Values

Question 1

HGB - Hemoglobin

Answer 1

Male: 13.5-17.5 grams/dL
Female: 12.0-15.5grams/dl

Oxygen - carrying proteins on red blood cells
Low levels usually indicate anemia

Question 2

HCT - Hematocrit

Answer 2

Female: 35 - 45%
Male: 40 - 50%

Proprtions of RBC’s to fluid in the blood
Low values usually indicate anemia

Question 3

WBC - White Blood Cells

Answer 3

3.5 - 10.5 billions cells/L

Fights with infections of foreign molecules that enter your body.
High WBC - infections or inflammations; immune system or bone marrow issues
Low WBC (leukopenia) - autoimmune disorder, bone marrow problems, cancer

Question 4

RBC - Red Blood Cell

Answer 4

Female: 4.32 - 5.72 trillion cells/L
Male: 3.9 - 5.03 trillion cells/L

Carries oxygen from the lungs and deliver it throughout the body
High RBC (erythrocytosis) - polycythemia vera, heart disease
Low RBC - Anemia

Question 5

Potassium - K+

Answer 5

3.5 - 51 mmol/dL

Used to help maintain normal levels of fluid inside our cells and helps muscles to contract and supports normal BP
High - transient abdominal cramps, diarrhea, cardiac arrest if severe ECG abnormaliites.
Low - muscle weakness, abdominal distention, decreased bowel sounds, constipation

Question 6

Calcium

Answer 6

8.2 - 10.2 mmol/dL

Used for muscles to move and for nerves to carry messages between your brain and every part of your body
High: Anorexia, nausea and vomiting, constipation, fatigues, diminished reflexes, lethargy, decreased levels of consciousness, confusion, personality changes cardiac arrest if severe
Low: Numbness and tingling of the fingers, toes, and circumoral (around the mouth) region, positive Chvostek’s sign (contraction of facial muscles when facial nerve is tapped), hyperactive reflexes, muscle twitching and cramping, carpal and pedal spasms, tetany, seizures, laryngospasms, dysrhythmias

Question 7

Sodium

Answer 7

136 - 145 mmol/dL

Conducts nerve impulses, contract and relax muscles, and maintain the proper balance of water and minerals; maintains proper fluid levels outside the cells; counterpart to potassium
High: perhaps thirst, seizures if develops rapidly or is severe
Low: seizures if develops rapidly or is very severe, water intoxications; water excess

Question 8

Chloride

Answer 8

98 - 107 mmol/dL

Chloride is after sodium in the most abundant electrolyte in serum, with regulations of body fluids, electrolyte balance
High: dehydration, problems that cause high sodium, Cushing syndrome
Low: occurs w/ low sodium - CHF, vomiting, gastric suction, chronic lung depression - respiratory acidosis

Question 9

Phosphate

Answer 9

2.4 - 4.5

Like calcium found in bones and teeth; used for responsibilities for enzymatic reactions within the cells
High - Kidney disease decreases excretions of excess phosphate in the blood. Extra can cause calcium to be pulled out of the bones
Low: Meds prevent absorption, low magnesium (Needed to absorb), high calcium (binds to), certain breathing problems

Question 10

BUN - Blood Urea Nitrogen

Answer 10

5 - 25 mg/dL

Ureas the product of protein metabolism by the liver and is excreted by kidneys (reabsorbable)
High: Dehydration, prerenal failure, digested blood from GI bleeding
Low: overhydration (hypervolemia), liver failure, malnutrition, SIADH, malabsorption

Question 11

Cr - Creatinine

Answer 11

0.5 - 1.5 mg/dL

Waste products that comes from the digestion of protein in your food and the normal breakdown of muscle tissue
High: Can lead to chronic kidney disease (mainly due to the fact that creatinine is suppose to be filtered out by the kidneys and usually means that the kidneys are impaired)
Low: low muscle mass, lack of strength, inflamed liver, fatigue, nausea, difficulty excersising

Question 12

PT - Prothrombin time

Answer 12

11 - 14 seconds

Time is takes blood to clot
High: may indicate liver damage or certain blood thinning drugs

Question 13

aPTT - Activated Partial Thromboplastin clotting time

Answer 13

30 - 40 seconds

PT w/ activator added to the blood
Evaluate: Response to heparin

Question 14

INR - international normalized ratio

Answer 14

<1.1 normal
2.0 - 3.0 therapuetic

Calculations based on PT results
High: Clotting too slow - medication, liver problems, vitamin K deficiency
Low: Clotting too quickly - supplemental vitamin K or Y intake

Question 15

PaCO2 - partial pressure of carbon dioxide

Answer 15

35 - 45

Measure of the carbon dioxide in arterial blood
High: The more acidic
Low: More basic

Question 16

HCO3 - sodium bicarbonate

Answer 16

22 - 26

The byproduct of your body’s metabolism
High- More basic
Low: More acidic

Question 17

Magnesium

Answer 17

1.5 - 2.5 mEq/L

Regulates biochemicals reactions in the body including protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation
High: Lethargy, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, cardiac arrest, Urine retention
Low: Low appetite, nausea or vomiting, muscle spasms or tremors, abnormal heart rhythms

Question 18

Ph

Answer 18

7.35 - 7.45

Measures how acidic/base the conditions are
High: Too much base
Low: Too much acid