LABS

Sodium

135-145

responsible for determining osmotic pressure and helps maintain acid-base balance

Potassium

(3.5-5.5)

regulated by the kidneys, essential for cardiac, muscle, and CNS function

Serum HCO3-

23-30

total amount of CO2 carried by HCO3-; essential for the acid-base balance

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) 

2.5-11

indication of renal health; waste product of the liver; couple with creatinine 

Creatinine

0.6-1.4

indication of muscle breakdown & kidney function; hypovolemia indicator (>1.4)

Calcium

8.8 - 10.4

essential for blood coagulation, endocrine, & neuro function; kidney disease = decrease

Alkaline Phosphatase

44-147

enzyme found in bones, liver, & kidneys; crucial for breakdown of proteins

Albumin

3.5-5.5

protein produced by the liver; maintains oncotic pressure; weak acid 

ALT

10-35

found in the liver; breakdown of amino acids; liver function indicator = consider with AST

AST

10-35

found in liver & heart; release with tissue (cardiac or liver) breakdown into bloodstream

RBCs

M: 4.7-6.1

F: 4.2-5.4

Hemoglobin

M: 14-13

F: 12-16 

oxygen carrying capacity of RBCs; transfusion once < 7 

Hematocrit

M: 42-52%

F: 37-47%

percentage of volume made up of RBCs; normal is 3x Hgb

Platelets

150-400

formed in bone marrow; essential for blood clotting

WBCs

(4,500-11,000)

responds to inflammatory process; when abnormal = differential process

INR

(0.8-1.2) 

COUMADIN 

measures how long it takes blood to clot compared to normal 

-hemorrhaging patients = if >1.4 consider Kcentra

Prothrombin Time (PT)

10-13

measures how long it takes for plasma to clot, used with INR

Partial Prothrombin Time (PTT)

25-35 sec

HEPARIN

measures several clotting factors & how long they take to do their job

Ammonia

< 40

waste product of protein breakdown; increased levels = possible liver dysfunction

Serum Osmolality

275-295

amount of solute in the serum part of the body; regulated by ADH hormone

Urine Specific Gravity

1.005-1.030

measurement of the concentration of urine; ratio of urine & water density

Troponin 1

< 0.04

protein essential for muscle contractions; calcium binding site

High levels can indicate cardiac stress or NSTEMI

CK-MB 

0-0.3 

creatine-kinase = brain of the muscle; found in cardiac and some skeletal muscle 

Pro-BNP

<100

secreted by cardiac myocytes based on ventricular stretch; CHF patients

Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)

0.4-0.5

predominant body at the onset of DKA

Magnesium

1.5-2.5

found in 50% bone and/or 45% intracellular: low mag = low calcium

Phosphorous

3.0-4.5 

provides mineral strength in the bone; strong relationship with calcium