Lab Values and Diagnostics Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering CBC, CMP, Thyroid, Lipids, Coagulation, and Imaging based on the clinical lab pearls provided.

WBC

White Blood Cell count, with a normal range of $4.0-11.0 \times 10^3/μ L$, used to identify infection, inflammation, or leukemia.

Hgb (Hemoglobin)

A measure of oxygen-carrying capacity; normal ranges are $12-16 g/dL$ for females and $14-18 g/dL$ for males.

MCV

Mean Corpuscular Volume, indicating the size of RBCs with a normal range of $80-100 fl$; used to classify anemia as microcytic or macrocytic.

Platelets

Cells involved in clotting with a normal range of $150-450 \times 10^3/μ L$; values help determine clotting or bleeding risk.

BUN

Blood Urea Nitrogen, with a normal range of $7-20 mg/dL$, indicating kidney function, hydration, and protein intake.

eGFR

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate, with a normal value $\ge 90 ml/min/1.73m^2$, representing the primary measure of kidney filtration and stage of kidney disease.

ALT

Alanine Aminotransferase, a liver enzyme with a normal range of $7-56 U/L$; more specific to the liver than AST.

TSH

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, the best screening test for thyroid function, with a normal range of $0.4-4.0 μ IU/mL$.

A1C

A measurement of average glucose over the last 2-3 months; normal is $< 5.7\%$, prediabetes is $5.7-6.4\%$, and diabetes is $\ge 6.5\%$.

LDL

Low-Density Lipoprotein, often called 'bad' cholesterol; the desired range is $<100 mg/dL$ (or $<70 mg/dL$ for high-risk patients).

Ferritin

The most accurate marker of iron stores, with normal ranges of $15-150 ng/mL$ for females and $30-400 ng/mL$ for males.

PT/INR and aPTT

Coagulation tests where PT/INR measures the extrinsic pathway and aPTT measures the intrinsic pathway.

CKD Stage G5

The stage of Chronic Kidney Disease characterized by kidney failure, defined by an eGFR of $<15$.

Specific Gravity

A urinalysis parameter with a normal range of $1.005-1.030$ that indicates hydration status.

Hypothyroidism

A clinical state characterized by high TSH and low Free T4 levels.

DEXA Scan

An imaging diagnostic tool used to measure bone density and screen for osteoporosis.

Non-HDL

Calculated as $\text{Total Cholesterol} - \text{HDL}$; often considered a better predictor of cardiovascular risk than LDL alone.