Lab Values Flashcards
What is BUN?
Blood Urea Nitrogen
Nitrogen in blood from the waste product UREA and is produced when protein is broken down in our bodies.
BUN: expected range
10-20 mg/dL
Complications related to BUN > 20 mmol/L
Kidney disease
Dehydration
Other conditions that decrease blood flow to kidneys (CHF, MI, shock)
What is creatinine?
Creatinine is the waste product produced by normal breakdown of muscles in our bodies.
Creatinine: expected range
0.6 - 1.2 mg/dL
Increased creatinine levels are indicative:
Kidney Dysfunction
*Fun fact: Creatinine is a more accurate assessment of kidney function than BUN.
What is GFR?
Glomerular Filtration Rate
GFR is used to assess kidney function by measuring how much blood passes through the glomeruli/min.
GFR: expected range
> 90 mL/min
GFR ranges r/t stages of CKD (chronic kidney disease):
Stage 1 = > 90 mL/min; minimal kidney damage
Stage 2 = 60-89 mL/min; mild kidney damage
Stage 3 = 30-59 mL/min; moderate kidney damage
Stage 4 = 15-29 mL/min; severe kidney damage
Stage 5 = < 15 mL/min; kidney failure
What is INR?
International Normalized Ratio
Ratio of patient’s prothrombin time (PT)… (aka patient’s clotting time) to a control PT; used to assess effectiveness of warfarin (anticoagulant) therapy.
INR: expected range
08 - 1.1
INR: therapeutic range on warfarin therapy
2 - 3
Elevated INR is indicative of:
Warfarin therapy
Bleeding disorders
Liver disease
Sudden decrease in Vitamin K intake (antidote to warfarin)
What is PT?
Prothrombin time
Clotting time; extrinsic and common pathways in coagulation cascade
PT: expected range
11 - 13 seconds
PT: therapeutic range on warfarin
(1.5 - 2 times the baseline)
Approx. 17 - 26 seconds
Increased PT would be indicative of:
DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation)
Liver disease
Vitamin K deficiency
Clotting factor deficiency
What is aPTT?
Activated partial thromboplastin time
Clotting time; intrinsic system and common pathways in coagulation cascade
aPTT: expected range
30 - 40 seconds
aPTT: therapeutic range on warfarin
(1.5 - 2 times the baseline)
Approx. 45 - 80 seconds
Increased aPTT would be indicative of:
Heparin therapy
DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation)
Hepatic disease
*Fun fact: Protamine sulfate is the antidote to heparin.
What is ALT?
Alanine aminotransferase
This is an enzyme produced by the liver and important in metabolism.
ALT: expected range
4 - 36 units/L
Increased ALT would be indicative of:
Liver dysfunction
*Fun fact: ALT is more specific to the liver than AST.
What is AST?
Aspartate aminotransferase
This is an enzyme found mostly in the liver, but also in the muscles.
AST: expected range
0 - 35 units/L
Increased AST is indicative of:
Liver dysfunction
Tissue damage in the body (heart, skeletal muscle)
What is pH?
Measure of hydrogen ion (H+) concentration in our blood.
pH: expected range
7.35 - 7.45
Increased pH is indicative of:
Alkalosis
- Respiratory alkalosis = pH > 7.45 & PaCO2 < 35
- Metabolic alkalosis = pH > 7.45 & HCO3 > 26
Decreased pH is indicative of:
Acidosis
- Respiratory acidosis = pH < 7.35 & PaCO2 > 45
- Metabolic acidosis = pH < 7.35 & HCO3 < 22
What is PaO2?
Partial pressure of oxygen
Measure of oxygen pressure in our arterial blood.
PaO2: expected range
80 - 100 mmHg
Decreased PaO2 is indicative of:
Poor oxygenation in arterial blood due to COPD, pneumonia, asthma, pneumothorax, acute respiratory distress, and failure.
What is PaCO2?
Partial pressure of carbon dioxide
Measure of carbon dioxide in our arterial blood.
PaCO2: expected range
35 - 45 mmHg
Increased PaCO2 is indicative of:
Respiratory or metabolic alkalosis (<35)
Decreased PaCO2 is indicative of:
Respiratory or metabolic acidosis (>45)
What is HCO3?
Bicarbonate “bicarb”
This is an important buffer regulated by our kidneys.
HCO3: expected range
22 - 26 mEq/L
Increased HCO3 is indicative of:
Respiratory or metabolic acidosis (>26)
Decreased HCO3 is indicative of:
Respiratory or metabolic alkalosis (<22)
What could be the cause of respiratory alkalosis due to a decrease in PaCO2?
Hyperventilation
Compensation for metabolic acidosis
What could be the cause of respiratory acidosis due to an increased PaCO2?
Hypoventilation
Compensation for metabolic alkalosis
What could be the cause of metabolic acidosis due to a decreased HCO3?
DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis)
Kidney failure
Diarrhea
Compensation for respiratory alkalosis
What could be the cause of metabolic alkalosis due to an increased HCO3?
Excess antacids
Vomiting
NG suctioning
Compensation for respiratory acidosis
What is SaO2?
Oxygen saturation of hemoglobin
Amount of oxygen bound to hemoglobin in our arterial blood.
SaO2: expected range
95 - 100%
Low 90s for COPD patients
Decreased SaO2 is indicative of:
Hypoxemia (abnormally low oxygen level in blood) due to: Anemia
COPD
Pneumonia
Asthma
ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome)
Pneumothorax
Pulmonary edema
What is Na and its expected range?
Sodium - important electrolyte for nerve/muscle function and maintaining fluid balance.
135 - 145 mEq/L