Nursing 200 Serum Lab Values for Adults

Chloride Reference Range

95-105 mEq/L

Chloride used for what?

Electrolyte, Fluid and pH status

Urea nitrogen (BUN) Reference Range

10-20 mg/dL

Urea nitrogen (BUN) used for what?

Hydration status

Renal fxn

Creatinine Reference Range

0.5-1.5 mg/dL

Creatinine used for what?

Renal fxn

Glucose Reference Range

70-100 mg/dL

Glucose used for what?

Glucose level

Hemoglobin A1C Reference Range

4-5.6%

Hemoglobin A1C used for what?

Long term index of glucose

Potassium Reference Range

3.5-5 mEq/L

Potassium used for what?

Electrolyte

Nerve and muscle contraction

Magnesium Reference Range

1.3-2.2 mEq/L

Magnesium used for what?

Electrolyte

Muscle and bone health

Sodium Reference Range

135-145 mEq/L

Sodium used for what?

Electrolyte

Fluid/electrolyte balance

Nerve and muscle contraction

Calcium Reference Range

8.5 – 10.6 mg/dL

Calcium used for what?

Electrolyte

Bone health

Hematocrit (Hct) Reference Range

Male: 42-52%

Female: 37-47%

Hematocrit (Hct) used for what?

RBC volume

Hemoglobin (Hgb) Reference Range

Male: 14-18 g/dL

Female: 12-16g/dL

Hemoglobin (Hgb) used for what?

Oxygen-carrying capacity

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) Reference Range

80-95 fL

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) used for what?

RBC size

Mean corpuscular Hgb (MCH) Reference Range

27-33 pg

Mean corpuscular Hgb (MCH) used for what?

Hgb per RBC (color)

Leukocytes (WBCs) Reference Range

4,500-10,000/mm2

Leukocytes (WBCs) used for what?

Inflammation/infection

Platelet count Reference Range

150,000-400,000/mm2

Platelet count used for what?

Clotting ability

Neutrophils Reference Range

55-70%

Neutrophils used for what?

Acute bacterial infection

Lymphocytes Reference Range

20-40%

Lymphocytes used for what?

Acute viral infection

Monocytes Reference Range

2-8%

Monocytes used for what?

Secondary response to infection

Eosinophils Reference Range

1-4%

Eosinophils used for what?

Allergic response

Basophils Reference Range

0.5-1%

Basophils used for what?

Inflammation

Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) Reference Range

• 0-40 sec

Therapeutic = 60-90 sec

Critical = > 100 sec

Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) used for what?

• Clotting mechanism

• Heparin IV

Prothrombin time (PT) & International ratio (INR) Reference Range

• PT-11-12.5 sec

• INR 0.8-1.1

Therapeutic = 1.5-3X

Critical = > 5

Prothrombin time (PT) & International ratio (INR) used for what?

• Clotting mechanism

• warfarin