Laboratory Values Flashcards
Serum Sodium
A major cation of ECF. Maintains osmotic pressure and assists in the transmission of nerve impulses. Absorbed in the small intestine.
Serum Potassium
Major cation of ICF. Regulates cellular water balance, electrical conduction in muscle cells and acid base balance. Balance maintained by the kidneys.
**patient with a high white cell count may have false high potassium levels
aPTT- Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time
20-36 seconds
Measures how well the clotting system is functioning. Measures time in seconds for plasma to clot after partial thromboplastin is added to it.
aPTT - is 1.5 x 2.5 times the normal value when patient is on heparin therapy.
PT - Prothrombin Time
- 6-11.8 seconds (adult male)
- 5-11.3 seconds (adult female)
Measures the time in seconds of clot formation.
Used to monitor warfarin therapy or diagnose coagulation disorders.
INR - International Normalized Ratio
2-3 - standard warfarin therapy
3-4.5 - high does warfarin therapy
Used to measure the effectiveness of oral anticoagulants.
Platelets
150,000 - 400,000 cells per minute
Produced by the bone marrow, function in hemostatic plug formation, clot retraction and coagulation factor activation.
ESR - Erythrosedimentation rate
0-30mm/hr
Rate at which erythrocytes settle out of anti-coagulated blood in 1 hour.
Hematocrit
35-52%
The proportion of blood that contains red blood cells. Used to diagnose anemia or polycythemia.
CK - Creatinine Kinase
26-174 units/L
Enzyme found in muscle and brain tissue. Reflects damage due to cell trauma.
Levels rise within 6 hours of damage and peak at 18 hours.
Troponin
Troponin i: 0.6-1.5 ng/mL
Troponin t: 0.1-0.2 ng/mL
Protein released by the myocardium into the bloodstream after an infarct.
Myoglobin
ANP - Atrial Natriuretic Peptides
22-27 pg/ml
Used in cardiac atrial muscle. Indicates heart failure.
BNP - Brain Natriuretic Peptides
less than 100
Albumin
3.4-5 g/dL
Plasma protein of the blood which transports bilirubin, fatty acids, medications, and hormones which are insoluble in water.
Levels of this protein increase in conditions like:
- dehydration
- metastatic carcinoma
- diarrhea
- acute infection
- ascites
- alcoholism
Ammonia
10-80 mcg/dL
Byproduct of catabolism which is metabolized by the liver into urea. Levels elevate resulting from hepatic dysfunction and can lead to encephalopathy.
ALT - Alaning aminotransferase
10-40 units / L
Used to identify inflammation and damage to the liver
AST - Aspartate aminotransferase
10-30 units/L
Used to identify patients with liver cell inflammation, damage or disease.
Amylase
25-151 units/L
Enzyme produced by the pancreas and salivary gland which aids in the digestion of complex carbohydrates and is excreted by the kidneys.
Helps detect chronic and acute pancreatitis.
Lipase
10-140 units/L
Pancreatic enzyme which converts fats and triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol.
Helps diagnose pancreatic disorders.
Bilirubin
Direct - 0-0.3 (intestines)
Indirect -
HDL value
60 mg/dL and higher
Total Lipid value
LDL value
Triglycerides
Protein
6-8 g/dL
Regulates osmotic pressure and is required for the formation of many hormones, enzymes and antibodies. Also the building material for skin, hair, eyes, nails and internal organs.
Fasting Glucose Test
Patient fasts for 8-12 hours prior to test (or if diabetic withhold morning medication). Fasting level should be 70-100 mg/dL.
Test used to check for diabetes mellitus.
Normal Glucose Level
60-110 mg/dL
Fasting Glucose Level
70-100 mg/dL
Glucose tolerance test
Administration of IV or oral glucose followed by checking of levels. If glucose levels peak at higher than normal levels 1-2 hours after administration and levels are slower than normal to return to fasting levels then diagnosis of diabetes is confirmed.
Baseline fasting 60-100 mg/dL
60 minutes fasting
Glycosylated hemoglobin - HbA1c
Reflects how good control of glucose has been over 3-4 month period.
Good control: 7%
Fair control: 7-8%
Poor control: > 8%
Serum creatinine
0.6-1.3 mg/dL
Specific indicator of renal function. Increased levels indicate a slowing of the eGFR.
Blood Urea Nitrogen
8-25 mg/dL
Formed in the liver by enzymatic breakdown. High levels indicate a slowing eGFR level.
Calcium
8.6-10 mg/dL
Aids in blood clotting by converting prothrombin to thrombin. Aids in bone formation, nerve impulse transmission and muscle contraction.
Magnesium
1.6-2.6 mg/dL
Used in blood clotting, regulates neuromuscular activity, modifies enzyme activity and effects the metabolism of calcium. Used as an indicator to determine metabolic activity and renal function.
Phosphorus
2.7-4.5 mg/dL
Absorbed from food. Important in bone formation, energy storage and release, urinary acid-base buffering and carbohydrate metabolism.
Thyroid stimulating hormone level
0.2 - 5.4 mu/mL
Thyroxine (T4)
5-12 mcg/dL
Thyroxine free (FT4)
0.8-2.4 ng/dL
Triiodothyronine (T3)
80-230 ng/dL
White Blood Cell Count
4,500-11,000 cells/mm3
Immune defense system of the body.
