Lab Values

Question 1

Hemoglobin (Hgb)

ability of RBCs to bind and transport O2 in blood

Answer 1

Adult male: 14-18 g/dL
Adult female: 12-16 g/dL
Standard cutoff: 8 g/dL

Question 2

Hematocrit (Hct)

% of blood vol made up of RBCs

Answer 2

Adult male: 40-54%
Adult female: 37-47%
Cutoff: < 25%

Question 3

Platelets

indicator of ability to clot

Answer 3

140-440 k/uL
Cutoff: < 20,000

Question 4

International Normalization Ratio (INR)

Answer 4

Range: 0.8-1.1
Reccomended therapeutic range: 2.0-3.0
Cutoff: > 2.5 (contraindication)

Question 5

Reference Range

Answer 5

Range: 4-11 K/uL

Question 6

pH

Answer 6

Range: 7.35-7.45
Cutoff: < 7.0

Question 7

PaCO2 (partial pressure of carbon dioxide)

Answer 7

Range: 35-45 mmHg

Question 8

HCO3 (bicarbonate)

Answer 8

Range: 22-26

Question 9

PaO2 (partial pressure of oxygen)

Answer 9

60-100 mmHg

Question 10

SaO2 (oxygen saturation)

Answer 10

Range: 90-100%
Cutoff: < 90% decreased rapidly, < 84% progressively decreased with eventual respiratory failure
*COPD basline: 88-92%

Question 11

Sodium (Na+)

nerve conduction, muscle contraction, cell function

Answer 11

Range: 135-145 mEq/L

Question 12

Potassium (K)

impacts neuromuscular and cardiac function

Answer 12

Range: 3.5-4.5 mEq/L

Question 13

Chloride

regulates blood volume, maintains acid-base volume

Answer 13

Range: 98-110 mEq/L

Question 14

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)

measures renal excretory capacity and estimates protein catabolism

Answer 14

Range: 6-20 mg/dL

Question 15

Creatinine

waste product of muscle metabolism, measures renal function

Answer 15

Range: 0.5-1.2 mg/dL

Question 16

Blood Glucose (BG) Level

indicator of carbohydrate metabolism

Answer 16

Range: 70-115 mg/dL
Cutoff: > 300, < 60

Question 17

Troponin

measures proteins released into serum following MI (heart damage)

Answer 17

Range: 0.000-0.040 ng/mL
*PT ok if bed rest 12h post MI, troponins stable/trending down (>2), physiologically/hemodynamically stable, no new EKG changes/chest pain

Question 18

B-Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)

hormone secreted by heart d/t pressure or volume overload

Answer 18

Range: 0-100 pg/mL

Question 19

White Blood Cell (WBC)

Answer 19

4,500-11,000 mm
Cutoff: < 5,000

Question 20

Prothrombin Time (PTT)

assess extrinsic coagulation pathway

Answer 20

Range: 11-12.5 s
Cutoff: > 2-3x normal

Question 21

C-reactive protein (CRP)

marker of vascular inflammation, predictor of future cardiovascular even

Answer 21

High risk: 3.0-10 mg/L
Avg risk: 1.0-3.0 mg/L
Low risk: < 1 mg/ml