Lab Values Flashcards
Sodium
135-145 mEq/L
-maintains water balance in the body
-normalizes function of nerve and muscle cells (smooth and skeletal)
- maintain acid/base balance for kidney function
Potassium
3.5-5 mEq/L
- maintain water balance in body
-essential for contraction of cardiac, muscle, and neuron transmission
-maintain acid/base balance for kidney funciton
“buy 3-5 bananas in a bunch and get them 1/2 ripe”
Calcium
9-11 mg/dL
-essential for blood clotting
- essential in neurotransmitter release
-strengthens bones and teeth
- normalizes function of nerve and contraction of muscle cells (smooth, skeletal, and cardiac)
“CAL 911!”
Magnesium
1.5-2.5 mEq/L
- maintain and form bones, regulates BP
- easily allow tissue to absorb insulin
- triggers sodium/potassium pump to maintain normal ion balance
- normalizes function of nerve and contraction of muscle cells)
“magnifying glass magnifies by 1.5-2.5x”
BUN
10-20 mg/dL
blood urea nitrogen test
measures the amount of urea nitrogen thats in your blood
“hamburger (BUN) costs big bucks 10-20 ($10-$20) to buy a burger and fries at a restaurant!”
Creatinine
0.5-1.2 mg/dL
a waste product that comes from the digestion of protein in your food and the normal breakdown of muscle tissue
Cholesterol
<200 mg
LDL “bad” cholesterol: <100 mg
HDL ‘good’ cholesterol: male >45 mg, female>55 mg
triglycerides: <150mg
Hgb
a hemoglobin test measures the amount of hemoglobin in blood. hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen to the body’s organs and tissues and transports carbon dioxide from organs back to lungs
men: 13.5-17.5 g/dL
women:12-16 g/dL
“girls (12-16) mature faster than boys (14-18)”
Hct
measures how much of a persons blood is made up of red blood cells
women:36%-46%
men: 42%-52%
“Again, girls (37-47%) mature faster than boys (42-52%)”
WBC
measures number of white blood cells in blood
5,000-10,000
“fight! 1 punch (5 fingers) 2 punches (10 fingers)
Chloride
proper balance of body fluids; essential part of digestive (stomach) juices
95-105 mEq/L
glucose
main type of sugar in the blood and is the major source of energy for the body’s cells
fasting - 70-110 mg/dL
after eating - over 120 mg/dL
HbA1C 4%-6%
phosphorous
2.5-4.5 mg/dL
important component of the lipid bilayer , DNA, RNA, and proteins
responsible for several enzymatic reactions within the cell e.g., glycolysis and ammoniagenesis
Albumin
3.5-5 g/dL
(liver)
helps keep fluid from leaking out of your blood vessels into other tissues; carries hormones, vitamins, and enzymes throughout your body
without enough fluid can leak out of your blood and build up in your lungs!, abdomen, or other body parts
Pre albumin
15-35 mg/dL
protein made in the liver; helps carry thyroid hormones and vitamin A thru blood stream; it helps control how your body uses energy
** if low this may be a sign of malnutrition
WBC
5,000-10,000
measures the number of white blood cells in blood; apart of a complete blood count (CBC); high number indicates infection
RBC
men: 4.7-6.1
women: 4.2-5.4
a group of tests that meaure many different parts and features of the blood; used to help diagnois cell disorders such as anemia
Plt
150,000-400,000
meauses number of platelets in the blood
a lower than norm is called thrombocytopenia - this condition can cause you to bleed too much after a cut or injury. a higher than normal platelet count is called thrombocytosis
PT
11-13 seconds
prothrombin time test measures how long it takes the liquid portion (plasma) of your blood to clot
PTT
30-40 seconds
a partial thromboplastin time test measures how long it takes for a clot to form in a blood sample.
INR
the international normalised ratio blood test tells you how long it takes for your blood to clot; it is used to test clotting time in people taking warfarin ( drug used to treat and prevent blood clots)
the doc can use this information to work out what dose of warfarin a pt should take
AST
men: 14-20 units/L
women: 10-36 units/L
measures the amount of aspartate transferase in your blood; helps assess the health of the liver;
ALT
4-36 units
measures amount of alanine transaminase in blood; when liver cells are damaged they release ALT into the bloodstream; high levels may be a sign of liver injury or disease
alkaline phosphatase
measures the amount of ALP (alkaline phosphatase in blood; made in liver and bones; high levels may indicate liver disease or certain bone disorders but the test alone cannot diagnoise a condition
Bilirubin
0.3-1 mg
bilirubin is a yellowish substance made during the process of breaking down old red blood cells; bilirubin is found in bile;
testing is done to investigate JAUNDICE - a yellowing of the skin caused by high levels of bilirubin
Lipase
0-160 units
checks for disease of the pancreas, most often acute pancreatitis
amylase
measured in blood or urine;
test is used to diagnos problems with the pancreas, including pancreatitis
BNP
B-type natriuretic peptide test is a blood test measures levels of a protein called BNP that is made in your heart and blood vessels
BNP levels are higher than normal when you have heart failure
