Lab Cheat Sheet

Question 1

Hemoglobin (Hgb)

Answer 1

Hgb in the blood is a rapid indication of the indirect measurement of RBC count. Hgb has the primary function of oxygen and CO2 transportation. Commonly part of a CBC.

Question 2

Hemoglobin (Hgb)

Hematocrit (Hct)

Answer 2

Percentage of the total blood volume that is made up of RBCs

Question 3

White Blood Cell (WBC)

Answer 3

Helpful in evaluation: infection, neoplasm, allergy or immunosuppression

Question 4

Red Blood Cell (RBC)

Answer 4

RBCs in peripheral blood (RBC. Hgb, and Hematocrit are closely related)

Question 5

Platelet (PLT)

Answer 5

Essential to blood clotting. Is used to evaluate thrombocytopenia

Question 6

Sodium

Answer 6

135-145 mEq/L

Evaluate and monitor fluid and electrolyte balance.

Question 7

Potassium

Answer 7

3.5-5 mmol/L

Routine to evaluate during illness as it is important for cardiac function

Question 8

Calcium

Answer 8

8.6-10.2 mg/dL

Vital for muscle contractility, cardiac function, neural transmission and clotting.

Question 9

Magnesium

Answer 9

1.5-2.5 mEq/L

Identify deficiencies or overload. Essential for nearly all metabolic processes

Question 10

BUN

Answer 10

Adult: 10-20 mg/dL
Elderly: may be slightly higher than an adult
Child: 5-18
Infant: 5-18
Newborn: 3-12
Cord: 21-40

Critical value: >100 indicates serious impairment of renal function Rough measurement of renal function and glomerular filtration (with normal liver function)

Question 11

Creatinine

Answer 11

Less than 2: 0.1-0.4 mg/dL
2-6 years:0.2-0.5
6-10:0.3-0.6
10-18: 0.4-1.0
18-41 females: 0.5-1.0 
18-41 males:0.6-1.2
41-61 females: 0.5-1.1
41-61 males: 0.6-1.3
\+61 females: 0.5-1.2
\+61 males: 0.7-1.3	

Used to diagnose impaired renal function (minimally affect by hepatic function, unlike BUN, and tends to show “chronicity”)

Question 12

Cholesterol

Answer 12

Adult: desirable is < 200 mg/dL and “borderline” 200-239, “high” >240
Child: 120-200
Infant: 70-175
Newborn: 53-135
Used to determine risk for coronary heart disease and evaluation of hyperlipidemias

This test requires fasting

Question 13

Triglycerides

Answer 13

Adult: desirable is <150, borderline is 150-199, high is 200-499, very high is >500

Used to determine risk for coronary heart disease

Question 14

Albumin

Answer 14

3.4-5.4 g/dL

Liver and kidney condition evaluation

Question 15

Hemoglobin A1C

Answer 15

Average blood sugar over the past 2-3 months

Question 16

Glucose, Serum

Answer 16

Child > 2 years to adulthood: 70-110 mg/dL
Elderly: increase in normal range after 50 years old
Child < 2 years: 60-100
Infant: 40-90 Measures blood glucose, commonly used to evaluate diabetic patients

Question 17

Glucose, Point of Care

Answer 17

70-140 mg/dL

Finger stick to check blood glucose levels throughout the day

Question 18

Urinalysis (UA

Answer 18

Routine diagnostic to evaluate kidneys and metabolic processes. Can detect urinary tract diseases (UTIs, infection, glomerulonephritis).

Question 19

Specific gravity

Answer 19

Adult: 1.005-1.030

Elders: values decrease with age

Newborn: 1.001-1.020

Measure of concentration of particles (waste products and electrolytes) Low=dilute urine, high=concentrated urine

Question 20

pH

Answer 20

4.6-8 (average is 6.0)

Acid base balance in the kidneys (through reabsorbing Na and excreting Hydrogen)

Question 21

Protein

Answer 21

0-8 mg/dL
50-80 mg/24 hr (at rest)
<250 mg/24 hr (during exercise) Sensitive indicator of kidney function

• Renal disease
• Can indicate preeclampsia in pregnant women

Question 22

Glucose

Answer 22

Fresh specimen: none
24 hour specimen:

50-300 mg/24 hr Monitor with diabetes control

• Diabetes
• Pregnancy

Question 23

Ketones

Answer 23

None (either negative or positive result)

Product of fatty acid breakdown when glucose cannot be transferred into the cells because of insulin insufficiency Poorly controlled
diabetes and
hyperglycemia

Question 24

Blood

Answer 24

Evaluate for bleeding from kidneys that would produce a dark red color and light red would be lower urinary tract
(monitor for women who could contaminate sample accidentally with menses)

Kidney involvement