lab values

WBC (leukocytes) ranges/critical values

5,000-10,000
CV: < 2500 or > 30,000

WBC trending up (leukocytosis) presentation

fever, fatigue, bleeding, bruising, frequent infections

WBC trending down (leukopenia) presentation

frequent/persistent infections, inflammation or ulcers around mouth, HA, stiff neck, sore throat, fever/chills, night sweats

platelet (thrombocytes) range/critical values

150,000-400,000
CV: < 50,000 or > 1 million

platelet trending up (thrombocytosis and thrombocythemia) presentation

HA, dizziness, weakness, chest pain, tingling in hands/feet

platelet trending down (thrombocytopenia) presentation

petechiae, ecchymosis, oral bleeding, hematuria, epistaxis

RBC (erythrocyte) range/critical values

male: 4.7-6.1, female: 4.2-5.4
CV: none

RBC trending up (erythrocytosis) presentation

weakness, fatigue, HA, lightheadedness, dyspnea

RBC trending down (anemia) presentation

OH, weakness, fatigue, DOE, pallor, dizziness, chest pain, leg cramps with exercise

hemoglobin range/critical values

male: 14-18, female: 12-16
CV: < 5 or > 20

Hgb trending up (polycythemia) presentation

fatigue, HA, dizziness, visual changes, TIA, dysrhythmias, bruising, bleeding

Hgb trending down (anemia) presentation

pallor, tachycardia, OH, dysrhythmias, impaired endurance and activity tolerance

hematocrit range/critical values

male: 43-52%, female: 37-47%
CV: < 15% or > 60%

Hct trending up (polycythemia) presentation

fatigue, HA, dizziness, visual changes, TIA, dysrhythmia, bruising, bleeding

Hct trending down (anemia) presentation

OH, dizziness, HA, pallor, cold hands/feet, angina, dysrhythmia, dyspnea

Na range/critical values

136-145
CV: < 120 or > 160

Na trending up (hypernatremia) presentation

thirst, confusion, irritability, hyperreflexia, seizure, coma, tachycardia, hypotension, oliguria

Na trending down (hyponatremia) presentation

HA, lethargy, hyporeflexia, seizure, coma, OH, pitting edema, confusion, weakness, nausea

potassium range/critical values

3.5-5
CV: < 2.5 or > 6.5

K trending up (hyperkalemia) presentation

muscle weakness or paralysis, muscle tenderness, paresthesia, dysrhythmia, bradycardia

K trending down (hypokalemia) presentation

extremity weakness, hyporeflexia, paresthesia, leg cramps, dysrhythmia, hypotension

calcium range/critical values

9-10.5
CV: < 6 or > 13

Ca trending up (hypercalcemia) presentation

hyporeflexia, muscle weakness, ventricular dysrhythmia, lethargy, constipation, nausea/vomiting, bone pain

Ca trending down (hypocalcemia) presentation

confusion, muscle cramps, hyperreflexia, dysrhythmia, paresthesia, agitation, seizure, fatigue

magnesium range/critical values

1.3-2.1
CV: < 0.5 or > 3

Mg trending up (hypermagnesemia) presentation

nausea/vomiting, hyporeflexia, hypotonia, somnolence, bradycardia, dysrhythmia, hypotension, respiratory depression

Mg trending down (hypomagnesemia) presentation

hypertonia, hyperreflexia, tremors, muscle cramping, seizures, apathy, nystagmus, dysrhythmias

ABG critical values

pH < 7.25 or > 7.55
PaCO2 < 20 or > 60, HCO3 < 15 or > 40, PaO2 < 40

respiratory alkalosis causes

high pH, low PaCO2
hyperventilation, salicylates

respiratory alkalosis presentation

lightheaded, dyspnea, paresthesia, chest tightness, seizures

respiratory acidosis causes

low pH, high PaCO2
resp depression, pulm disease

respiratory acidosis presentation

anxiety, confusion, fatigue/lethargy, tachypnea, coma, seizure

metabolic alkalosis causes

high pH, high HCO3
sodium bicarbonate overdose, prolonged vomiting, nasogastric drainage, CF

metabolic alkalosis presentation

confusion, delirium, dysrhythmias, hypotension, muscle cramping

metabolic acidosis causes

low pH, low HCO3
diabetes, shock, renal failure, intestinal fistula

metabolic acidosis presentation

dyspnea, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, tachyarrhythmias, hypotension

plasma d-dimer reference range

< 250 ng/mL or < 0.4 mcg/mL

activated partial thromboplastin time range/critical values

30-40, therapeutic range 1.5-2.5 times control
CV: > 70 sec increased risk for spontaneous bleed

prolonged APTT presentation

increased bleeding tendency, bruising, oozing from wounds, mucosal bleeding

prothrombin time values

11-12.5
full anticoagulant therapy > 1.5-2 times control
20 sec high risk for bleed

prolonged prothrombin time presentation

increased bleeding tendency, bruising, oozing from wounds, mucosal bleeding

INR range/critical values

0.8-1.1, therapeutic range 2-3 times control
CV: > 5.5

above normal INR presentation

increased bleeding tendency, bruising, oozing from wounds, mucosal bleeding

troponin ranges

troponin T: < 0.1, troponin I: < 0.03
high sensitivity: < 14 women or 22 men

increased troponin causes

MI or myocardial injury

BNP ranges

< 100, NT-pro-BNP: < 300
CV: > 400

high BNP causes

HF, MI, systemic HTN, cor pulmonale, heart transplant rejection

ABG range

pH: 7.35-7.45
PaCO2: 35-45, HCO3: 21-28, PaO2: 80-100