Important Ranges

Question 0

4.3 mEq/L Potassium

What does this value indicate?

Answer 0

Normal Potassium Level

Normal Range: 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L

Question 1

96 mEq/L Chloride

What does this value indicate?

Answer 1

Low Chloride Level

Normal Range: 98 to 106 mEq/L

Question 2

7.37pH

What does this value indicate?

Answer 2

Normal pH balance

Question 3

7.24 pH

What does this value indicate?

Answer 3

The blood is abnormally acidic.

Question 4

8.5 mg/dL to 10.5 mg/dL

What range is this?

Answer 4

Normal Calcium Range

Question 5

Kussmaul respirations 
Changes in LOC 
Disorientation 
Muscle twitching 
What acid-base imbalance is this?

Answer 5

Metabolic Acidosis

Question 6

12 mEq/L Anions

What does this value indicate?

Answer 6

High anion 
gap

Greater than 
11 mEq/L 
(11 mmol/L) 

Question 7

7.0 mg/dL Calcium

What does this value indicate?

Answer 7

Low Calcium Level

Normal Range: 8.5 mg/dL to 10.5 mg/dL

Question 8

+1 mmol/L base access

What does this value indicate?

Answer 8

Normal Base Access

Question 9

20 mEq/L HCO3-

What does this value indicate?

Answer 9

Decreased HCO3−  indicates that the blood has too many metabolic acids.

Question 10

High pH
Low CO2
What acid-base imbalance symptoms are these?

Answer 10

Respiratory Alkalosis

Question 11

25 mEq/L HCO3-

What does this value indicate?

Answer 11

Normal HCO3-

Question 12

75 mm/HG PaO2

What does this value indicate?

Answer 12

Values below normal indicate poor oxygenation of the blood.

Question 13

Increase of any acid except HCl: 
Ketoacids (DKA, starvation, 
alcoholism), lactic acid (circulatory 
shock, extreme exercise), 
excessive normal metabolic acids 
(oliguric acute kidney injury, 
end-stage renal disease, severe 
hyperthyroidism, burns, severe 
infection), unusual organic acids 
(salicylate overdose, acids 
metabolized from methanol, 
ethylene glycol, paraldehyde)

This can cause what lab value abnormality?

Answer 13

High anion 
gap

Greater than 
11 mEq/L 
(11 mmol/L) 

Question 14

Rapid, shallow respirations
Dyspnea
Muscle weakness
What acid-base imbalance symptoms are these?

Answer 14

Respiratory Acidosis

Question 15

22-26 mEq/L (22-26 mmol/L)

What range is this?

Answer 15

HCO3-

Rationale:
HCO3-is concentration of the base (alkaline substance) bicarbonate, a measure of how well the kidneys  are  excreting  metabolic acids. 

Question 16

+3 mmol/L base excess

What does this value indicate?

Answer 16

Values above +2 indicate excessive 

amounts of bicarbonate.

Question 17

Low pH
High CO2
What acid-base imbalance symptoms are these?

Answer 17

Respiratory Acidosis

Question 18

−2 to +2 mmol/L

What is this range?

Answer 18

Base excess 

Rationale: Base excess is  observed  buffering capacity minus the normal 
buffering capacity, a measure 
of how well the blood buffers are 
managing metabolic acids. 

Question 19

7.56 pH

What does this value indicate?

Answer 19

The blood is abnormally alkaline. 

Question 20

32 mm/HG PaCO2

What does this value indicate?

What is this caused by?

Answer 20

Decreased PaCO2 indicates excessive CO2 excretion (less carbonic acid) through hyperventilation.

Question 21

Slow respirations
Restlessness
Diarrhea 
Nausea & Vomiting
Arrhythmias

What acid-base imbalance symptoms are these?

Answer 21

Metabolic Alkalosis

Question 22

9.5 mg/dL Calcium

Answer 22

Normal Calcium Level

Normal Range: 8.5 mg/dL to 10.5 mg/dL

Question 23

Excess output of bicarbonate: 
Diarrhea, pancreatic fistula,  
intestinal decompression, renal  
tubular acidosis 
Increase of chloride-containing acid:  
Parenteral HCl therapy

What causes this abnormal laboratory value?

Answer 23

Normal anion gap

Question 24

49 mm/HG PaCO2

What does this value indicate?

What is this caused by?

Answer 24

Increased PaCO2 indicates CO2 accumulation in blood (more carbonic acid) caused by hypoventilation.

Question 25

Thisvalue is influenced by pH, PaCO2, and body temperature. It drops rapidly when PaO2 falls below 
60 mm Hg (8 kPa).

Answer 25

Oxygen Saturation

SaO2

Question 26

8 mEq/L  Anions

What does this value indicate?

Answer 26

Normal Anion Gap

Question 27

29 mEq/L HCO3-

What does this value indicate?

Answer 27

Increased HCO3- indicates that the blood has too few metabolic acids.

Question 28

98 to 106 mEq/L

What range is this?

Answer 28

Normal Chloride Range

Question 29

95%-100%

What range is this?

Answer 29

SaO2

Rationale: SaO2 is oxygen saturation, the percentage of hemoglobin that is carrying as much O2 as possible. 

Question 30

5-11 mEq/L  Anions

What range is this?

Answer 30

Normal anion gap

Question 31

130 mEq/L Sodium

What does this value indicate?

Answer 31

Low Sodium Level

Normal Range: 135 to 145 mEq/L

Question 33

80-100 mm/Hg (10.7-13.3 kPa)

What range is this?

Answer 33

PaO2 

Rationale: PaO2 is partial pressure of oxygen (O2), a measure of how well gas exchange is occurring in the 
alveoli of the lungs. 

Question 33

-3 mmol/L base excess

What does this value indicate?

Answer 33

Values below −2 (negative base excess) 

indicate excessive metabolic acids.

Question 35

135 to 145 mEq/L

What range is this?

Answer 35

Normal Sodium Range

Question 36

Low PH
Low HCO3
What acid-base imbalance is this?

Answer 36

Metabolic Acidosis

Question 37

102 mEq/L Chloride

What does this value indicate?

Answer 37

Normal Chloride Level

Normal Range: 98 to 106 mEq/L

Question 38

155 mEq/L Sodium

What does this value indicate?

Answer 38

High Sodium Level

Normal Range: 135 to 145 mEq/L

Question 39

97% SaO2

What does this value indicate?

Answer 39

Normal Oxygen Saturation

Question 40

43 mm/HG PaCO2

What does this value indicate?

Answer 40

Normal PaCO2

Question 41

5.4 mEq/L Potassium

What does this value indicate?

Answer 41

High Potassium Level

Normal Range: 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L

Question 42

35-45 mm/Hg (4.7-6 kPa)

What range is this?

Answer 42

PaCO2

Rationale: PaCO2 is partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2), a measure of how well the lungs are excreting CO2 
produced by cells. 

Question 43

108 mEq/L Chloride

What does this value indicate?

Answer 43

High Chloride Level

Normal Range: 98 to 106 mEq/L

Question 44

140 mEq/L Sodium

What does this value indicate?

Answer 44

Normal Sodium Level

Normal Range: 135 to 145 mEq/L

Question 45

7.35-7.45

What range is this?

Answer 45

pH

Rationale:
Small changes in pH denote large changes in H+  concentration and are clinically important.
pH is a negative logarithm of the free H+  concentration, a measure of how acid or alkaline the blood is. 

Question 46

7.37pH

What does this value indicate?

Answer 46

Normal pH balance

Question 47

3.0 mEq/L Potassium

What does this value indicate?

Answer 47

Low Potassium Level

Normal Range: 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L

Question 48

Deep rapid breathing
Seizures
Confusion
Tingling of Extremities

What acid-base imbalance symptoms are these?

Answer 48

Respiratory Alkalosis

Question 49

90 mm/HG PaO2

What does this value indicate?

Answer 49

Normal PaO2

Question 50

3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L

What range is this?

Answer 50

Normal Potassium Range

Question 51

High PH
High HCO3
What acid-base imbalance symptoms are these?

Answer 51

Metabolic Alkalosis

Question 52

17.5 mg/dL Calcium

What does this value indicate?

Answer 52

High Calcium Level

Normal Range: 8.5 mg/dL to 10.5 mg/dL

Question 53

Inflate BP cuff on upper arm to 20 mm Hg above systolic pressure, carpal
spasms within 2–5 min indicate tetany in hypocalcemia. What is this sign to indicate tetany called?

Answer 53

Trousseau’s Sign

Question 54

Tap facial nerve 2 cm anterior to the earlobe just below the zygomatic arch;
twitching of facial muscles indicates tetany in hypocalcemia. What is this sign to indicate tetany called?

Answer 54

Chvostek’s Sign