Health Science Self Study

Additive in Yellow Tube

SPS

Additive in Blue Tube

Sodium Citrate

Additive in Red Tube

usually none, some have clot activator

Additive in Gold Tube

clot activator + gel that creates barrier between serum and blood after centrifuge

Additive in Green Tube

heparin

Additive in Lavender Tube

EDTA

Additive in Pink Tube

spray-dried potassium EDTA

Additive in Gray Tube

sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate

How many times to invert Blood Cultures

Invert 8-10 times

How many times to invert Blue

Invert 3-4 times

How many times to invert Red

Invert 5 times

How many times to invert Gold

5 times

How many times to invert Green

Invert 8-10 times

How many times to invert Lavender

Invert Pink 8-10 times

How many times to invert Pink

8-10 times

How many times to invert Gray

Invert 8-10 times

Blue Common Labs

PT, PTT, INR, D-Dimer

Red Common Labs

Serum tests, serology/immunology (HIV, hepatitis C), therapeutic drug levels (Phenytoin - seizure medication)

Gold Common Labs

Comprehensive metabolic panels (CMP), basic metabolic panels (BMP), lipid panels, liver and thyroid function tests

Green Common Labs

Comprehensive metabolic panels (CMP), basic metabolic panels (BMP), electrolytes like sodium, potassium, chloride, and sTAT tests

Lavender Common Labs

Complete blood count (CBC), hemoglobin and hematocrit, hemoglobin A1C

Pink Common Labs

Blood typing, cross matching, antibody screening (used for blood banks)

Gray Common Labs

Glucose (additives keep levels stable and prevent glycolysis), lactic acid, blood alcohol content

Normal RBC Range

Females 4.0-5.5 million per microliter

Males 4.5-6.1 million per microliter

Normal WBC Range

4,000-11,000 per microliter

Normal Platelets Range

150,000-450,000 per microliter

Normal Hemoglobin (Hgb) Range

Females 12-16 g/dL

Males 14-18 g/dL

Hematocrit (HCT)

Females 36-48%

Males 40-54%

Normal Fasting Blood Glucose

70-99 mg/dL

Prediabetes

100-125 mg/dL

Diabetes

126 mg/dL or higher (second confirmation test is needed for diagnosis)

If Fasting Blood Glucose is Low

Hypoglycemia, insulin overdose

If Fasting Blood Glucose is High

Diabetes, stress, infection

Abnormal Random Blood Glucose (Non-fasting)

200 mg/dL or higher + symptoms likely means the patient is diabetic

Symptoms of diabetes

frequent urination, excessive thirst, blurred vision, fatigue

Normal Hemoglobin A1C Level

Below 5.7%

Prediabetes Hemoglobin A1C Level

5.7-6.4%

Diabetes Hemoglobin A1C Level

6.5%+

Normal Sodium (Na+) Range

135-145 mEq/L

If Sodium (Na+) is low

overhydration, kidney disease

If Sodium (Na+) is high

dehydration

Normal Potassium (K+) Level

3.5-5.0 mEq/L

If Potassium (K+) is Low

Vomiting, potassium-wasting diuretics, will see muscles weakness and heart rhythm abnormalities

If Potassium (K+) is High

Kidney disease, acidosis, will see dangerous cardiac arrhythmias

Normal Calcium (Ca) Range

8.6-10.2 mg/dL

If Calcium (Ca) is Low

Hypoparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, will see muscles spasms

If Calcium (Ca) is High

hyperparathyroidism, cancer

How is blood calcium regulated?

there are 4 small parathyroid glands behind thyroid that regulate blood calcium. This is done through bones releasing or reabsorbing calcium.

Normal AST-Liver Function Range

10-40 U/L

If AST-Liver Function is high

Liver damage, muscle injury

Normal ALT-Liver Function Range

7-56 U/L

If ALT-Liver Function is high

Liver disease, hepatitis

Normal Alkaline Phosphate (ALP) Range

44-147 U/L

If Alkaline Phosphate (ALP) High

Liver/bone disease

Normal Total Bilirubin Range

0.1-1.2 mg/dL

If Total Bilirubin High

Liver disease, hemolysis

Normal Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Range

0.4-4.0 mlU/L

If TSH low

Hyperthyroidism

If TSH high

Hypothyroidism

Normal Prothrombin Time (PT)

11-13.5 seconds

If Prothombin Time (PT) High

Clotting disorders, liver disease

Normal Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT)

25-35 seconds

If Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) High

Heparin therapy, clotting disorders

Normal INR

0.8-1.2 (for individuals who aren’t on anticoagulants)

2.0-3.0 (for individuals who are on a therapeutic dose of Warfarin therapy, for atrial fibrillation or deep vein thrombosis)

If INR high

Warfarin therapy, bleeding risk

Normal Total Cholesterol

Less than 200 mg/dL

If Cholesterol High

cardiovascular risk

Normal LDL

Less than 100 mg/dL

If LDL High

atherosclerosis risk

Atherosclerosis

chronic disease where fatty cholesterol plaques develop in arteries, causing them to narrow, harden, and restrict blood flow

Normal HDL Range

Greater than 40 mg/dL

If HDL Low

cardiovascular risk

If HDL high

Protective

Normal Triglycerides Range

Less than 150 mg/dL

If Triglycerides High

Risk for cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke, increased risk of diabetes

Normal Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) Range

7-20 mg/dL

If Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) Low

Overhydration, malnutrition, or a very low protein diet

If Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) High

Kidney disease, high protein intake, dehydration

Normal Creatinine Range

0.6-1.3 mg/dL

If Creatinine High

kidney disease

If Creatinine Low

decreased muscle mass, malnutrition, liver disease

Normal Glomeruler Filtration Rate (GFR)

greater than 60 mL/min

If Glomeruler Filration Rate (GFR) low

Kidney Disease