RCP 110: Diagnostics and Normal Clinical Values

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering diagnostic modalities and standard adult reference values for vitals, arterial blood gases, complete blood counts, blood chemistry, coagulation panels, cardiac biomarkers, and pulmonary function testing in respiratory care.

Diagnostics

Tests used to help identify, confirm, or evaluate a patient problem, which respiratory therapists interpret in conjunction with bedside patient assessment.

Chest X-ray (CXR)

A common first-line imaging modality of the chest that visualizes the lungs, heart, airways, bones, and medical tubes/lines to detect abnormalities such as pneumothorax, consolidation, pleural effusion, or pulmonary edema.

Computed Tomography (CT)

An advanced imaging modality that provides detailed cross-sectional images of the chest compared to a standard chest X-ray.

Ultrasound / Echocardiography

An imaging technique utilizing high-frequency sound waves to evaluate pleural and lung findings or cardiac structure and function.

Ventilation-Perfusion (V/Q) Scan

A diagnostic imaging study that compares ventilation with pulmonary perfusion, most commonly used in the clinical evaluation of suspected pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)

A group of diagnostic tests that measure how air moves into and out of the lungs and evaluate the overall functional capacity of the respiratory system.

Spirometry

A foundational pulmonary function test that measures airflow and lung volumes, including forced vital capacity ($\text{FVC}$), forced expiratory volume in one second ($\text{FEV}_1$), and the $\text{FEV}_1/\text{FVC}$ ratio.

Diffusing Capacity of the Lungs for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO)

A diagnostic test that evaluates gas transfer across the alveolar-capillary membrane, with a normal value of $25\,\text{mL CO / min / mmHg}$.

Respiratory Muscle Tests

Diagnostic maneuvers evaluating ventilatory muscle strength and endurance, including Maximal Inspiratory Pressure ($\text{MIP}$), Maximal Expiratory Pressure ($\text{MEP}$), and Maximum Voluntary Ventilation ($\text{MVV}$).

Electrocardiography (ECG/EKG)

A diagnostic procedure that detects and records the electrical activity of the heart using skin electrodes, displaying signals as waveforms or tracings for evaluation during assessment, emergencies, and critical care.

Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Differential

A laboratory blood panel providing objective quantitative measurements of red blood cells ($\text{RBCs}$), hemoglobin ($\text{Hb}$), hematocrit ($\text{Hct}$), white blood cells ($\text{WBCs}$), and platelets.

Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)

A blood sample collected from an artery used to evaluate patient acid-base balance, ventilatory status ($\text{PaCO}_2$), and arterial oxygenation ($\text{PaO}_2$, $\text{SaO}_2$).

Hemoximetry / Co-oximetry

A specialized laboratory photometric measurement that directly quantifies individual hemoglobin fractions, including oxyhemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin, and methemoglobin.

Point of Care Testing (PCOT)

Medical diagnostic testing performed directly at the bedside or care site (e.g., bedside spirometry, rapid strep/flu assays, i-STAT blood gas analyzers, POCUS) to deliver rapid turnaround results for prompt clinical decisions.

Normal Adult Heart Rate (Pulse)

$$60 - 100\,\text{beats/min}$$

Normal Adult Blood Pressure

Standard value of $120/80\,\text{mmHg}$, with an acceptable clinical range of $90/60 - 140/90\,\text{mmHg}$.

Normal Adult Respiratory Rate

$$12 - 20\,\text{breaths/min}$$

Normal SpO2 Range

$$93 - 97\%$$

Normal End-Tidal CO2 (ETCO2)

$30 - 45\,\text{torr}$ (referenced as $35 - 45\,\text{torr}$ or $25 - 35\,\text{torr}$ in various texts) or $3 - 5\%$.

Normal Arterial Blood pH

$7.35 - 7.45$ (mean target $7.40$)

Normal Arterial PaCO2

$35 - 45\,\text{torr}$ (mean target $40\,\text{torr}$)

Normal Arterial PaO2

$$80 - 100\,\text{torr}$$

Normal Arterial Bicarbonate (HCO3−)

$22 - 26\,\text{mEq/L}$ (some texts state $22 - 28\,\text{mEq/L}$)

Normal Base Excess (BE)

$$-2\text{ to }+2\,\text{mEq/L}$$

Normal Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count

$$4 - 6\,\text{mill/mm}^3$$

Normal White Blood Cell (WBC) Count

$$5{,}000 - 10{,}000\,\text{per mm}^3$$

Normal Hemoglobin (Hb) Concentration

$$12 - 16\,\text{gm/100 mL of blood}$$

Normal Hematocrit (Hct)

$$40 - 50\%$$

Normal Serum Potassium (K+)

$$3.5 - 4.5\,\text{mEq/L}$$

Normal Serum Sodium (Na+)

$$135 - 145\,\text{mEq/L}$$

Normal Serum Chloride (Cl−)

$$90 - 100\,\text{mEq/L}$$

Normal Serum Creatinine

$$0.7 - 1.3\,\text{mg/dL}$$

Normal Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)

$$8 - 25\,\text{mg/dL}$$

Normal Whole Blood Clotting Time

$$\text{Up to } 6\,\text{minutes}$$

Normal Platelet Count

$$150{,}000 - 400{,}000\text{/mm}^3$$

Normal Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APPT)

$$24 - 32\,\text{seconds}$$

Normal Prothrombin Time (PT)

$$12 - 15\,\text{seconds}$$

Normal Serum Troponin Level

$$< 0.1\,\text{ng/mL}$$

Normal Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)

$$< 100\,\text{pg/mL}$$

Normal Carboxyhemoglobin (COH2 / COHb)

$0 - 1\%$ in non-smokers ($2 - 15\%$ in smokers)

Normal Hourly Urine Output

$$40\,\text{mL/hour}$$

Normal Intracranial Pressure (ICP)

$$5 - 10\,\text{mmHg}$$

Normal Cerebral Perfusion Pressure (CPP)

$$70 - 90\,\text{mmHg}$$

Normal Exhaled Carbon Monoxide (FECO)

$< 7\,\text{ppm}$ for non-smokers ($7 - 20\,\text{ppm}$ for smokers)

Normal Vital Capacity (VC)

$4800\,\text{mL}$ ($4.8\,\text{L}$) or $> 80\%$ of predicted value

Normal Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1)

$4000\,\text{mL}$ ($4\,\text{L}$) or $> 80\%$ of predicted value

Normal FEV1/FVC Ratio

$$> 80\%$$

Normal FEF 200–1200

$6\,\text{L/sec}$ or $> 80\%$ of predicted value

Normal FEF 25–75%

$4.7\,\text{L/sec}$ or $> 80\%$ of predicted value

Normal Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR)

$10\,\text{L/sec}$ ($600\,\text{L/min}$) or $> 80\%$ of predicted value

Normal Airway Resistance (Raw)

$$0.6 - 2.4\,\text{cmH}_2\text{O / L / sec}$$