Lab Values

Question 1

Urinalysis, adult

• pH
• Specific gravity
• Protein
• Glucose
• Ketones
• Blood
• RBCs
• WBCs
• Tube?

Answer 1

pH = 4.5-8.0
Specific gravity = 1.005-1.030
Protein = 2-8 mg/dL
Glucose = negative
Ketones = negative
Blood = negative
RBCs = 1-2 per lower power field
WBCs =3-4
Tube = yellow top pointed

Question 2

Protime/INR

• Time
• INR
• Tube?

Measures clotting time, used to monitor oral anticoagulant therapy. INR (International Normalized Ratio) is a universal way to convey information about a patient’s coagulation status.

Decreased level:
-Thrombophlebitis, MI, PE

Increased level:
-Liver disease, HF

Answer 2

Time = 10-13 seconds
INR = 1.0 ± 0.1 (approximately)
Tube = blue top (sodium citrate)

Question 3

Albumin, adult

• Range
• Tube?

Makes up over half of the plasma proteins, and increases osmotic pressure, which is necessary for maintaining vascular fluid. Half life of 20-24 days.

Decreased level:
-Malnutrition, cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure, renal disorders

Increased level:
-Dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea

Answer 3

Albumin = 3.5-5.0 g/dL; 52-68% of total protein.
Tube = red top (no additive, serum obtained)

Question 4

Prealbumin, adult

• Range
• Male average
• Female average
• Tube?

Used primarily for nutrition assessment, including TPN. Half life of 2-4 days.

Decreased level:
-Malnutrition, inflammation, cirrhosis of the liver

Increased level:
-Chronic kidney disease

Answer 4

Prealbumin = 17-40 mg/dL
Male average = 21.6 mg/dL
Female average = 18 mg/dL
Tube = red top (no additive, serum obtained)

Question 5

CBC, adult

• RBCs male
• RBCs female
• Hgb male
• Hgb female
• Hct male
• Hct female

-WBCs

• Neutrophils (first line of defense)
• Monocytes (second line of defense)
• Lymphocytes (chronic/viral infections)
• Eosinophils (stimulated by allergies, parasites)
• Basophils (help during the healing process)
• Platelets (less than 50% normal causes bleeding)
• Tube?

A general hematological screening test. Used to screen for anemias and infection, and in that event, what may be causing it (by looking at WBC differential).

Hemoglobin is the oxygen carrying protein found on RBCs. Hemoglobin panic values = under 5 g/dL (unable to transport O2) or over 20 g/dL (clog blood vessels)

Hematocrit is the volume of packed RBCs in 100 mL of blood. Hematocrit panic values = under 15% or over 60%

Decreased level:
-Anemia, chronic kidney disease, blood loss

Increased level:
-Dehydration, infection

Answer 5

RBCs male = 4.6-6.0 million/uL
RBCs female = 4.0-5.0 million/uL

Hgb male = 13.8-18 g/dL
Hgb female = 12-15 g/dL

Hct male = 40-54%
Hct female = 36-46%

WBCs = 4,500-10,000 uL
(Critical values = under 2,500 or over 30,000 uL)

Neutrophils = 50-70% / 2,500-7,000 uL
Monocytes = 4-6% / 40-100 uL
Lymphocytes = 25-35% / 1,700-3,500 uL
Eosinophils = 1-3% / 100-300 uL
Basophils = 0.4-1.0% / 40-100 uL

Platelets = 150,000-400,000 uL
Tube = lavender (EDTA)