Lab Values

Question 1

What is the normal range for platelet count?

Answer 1

150,000 to 450,000/mm^3

Question 2

What does a platelet count of < 150,000 put the patient at an increased risk for?

Answer 2

Risk of bleeding, DIC

Question 3

What are reticulocytes? And what is the normal reference range?

Answer 3

Reticulocytes are immature RBCs.
The normal reference range is 0.5% to 2.5%

Question 4

What could cause an increase in reticulocyte counts?

Answer 4

Acute bleeding
Hemolytic Anemia

Question 5

What is the normal range of hemoglobin for males? For females?

Answer 5

Males 14.0 to 18.0 g/dL
Females 12.0 to 16 g/dL

Question 6

What is the normal range of hematocrit for males? For females?

Answer 6

Males 40 to 50%
Females 36 to 45%

Question 7

Between hematocrit and hemoglobin, which is affected by hydration status?

Answer 7

Hematocrit – as it is the measure of the amount of space the RBCs take up in the blood.

Hemoglobin is the amount of protein that is able to bind to oxygen and is not affected by hydration status.

Question 8

Normal range of MCV

Answer 8

80 to 100 fL

Question 9

What is considered a high RDW?

Answer 9

> 14.5%

Question 10

Normal range of total WBC count

Answer 10

4,500 to 11,000/mm^3

Question 11

Normal percentage of neutrophils

Answer 11

55 to 70%

Question 12

What is considered high band forms (immature neutrophils)

Answer 12

> 5%

Question 13

If a band form “shifts to the left”, what does that indicate?

Answer 13

Possible infection

Question 14

Normal range of eosinophils

Answer 14

<5%

Question 15

What causes an increase in eosinophils?

Answer 15

Allergies, parasitic infx, cancer

Question 16

Normal range of TSH

Answer 16

0.4 to 5.0 mU/L

Question 17

What does a TSH of >5.0 indicate?

Answer 17

Hypothyroidism

TSH is released by the anterior pituitary to communicate with the thyroid. If there are elevated levels of TSH, that could mean the thyroid gland is not responding.

Question 18

What does a TSH of < 0.4 indicate?

Answer 18

Hyperthyroidism

Elevated levels of T4 triggers a negative feedback loop that tells the anterior pituitary to release less TSH.

Question 19

Normal range of PSA?

Answer 19

< 4.0

Question 20

What is considered a low ferritin level?

Answer 20

< 15 mcg/L

Question 21

Normal range for ESR in men? Women?

Answer 21

Men 0 to 22 mm/hr
Women 0-29 mm/hr

Question 22

What causes elevated ESR?

Answer 22

Inflammation
Giant cell artiritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Lupus

Question 23

What causes elevated CRP?

Answer 23

Inflammation
Autoimmune diseases

Question 24

What causes elevated cTnT (cardiac troponins)?

Answer 24

MI, heart damage, HF

Question 25

What causes elevated BNP (b-type natriuretic peptide)?

Answer 25

Heart Failure

Question 26

Normal range of potassium
Critical values?

Answer 26

3.5 to 5.5
< 2.5 or > 8

Question 27

What is the normal range of MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration)?

Answer 27

31-37

Question 28

What is the normal range of MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin)?

Answer 28

25-35

Question 29

What is the normal range of TIBC (total iron binding capacity)?

Answer 29

250-410

Question 30

What does an elevated TIBC mean?

Answer 30

There is not enough iron to bind to transferrin

Question 31

What is the normal range of serum ferritin?

Answer 31

20 to 400

Question 32

What is the normal range of serum iron?

Answer 32

50 to 175

Question 33

What is the normal range of serum folate levels

Answer 33

3.1 to 17.5

Question 34

What is the normal range of serum B12 levels?

Answer 34

> 250

Question 35

What is the normal reference range of MMA (methylmalonic acid)?

Answer 35

70 to 350