Common Laboratory Values Used Across the Curriculum

These flashcards cover key laboratory values, their normal ranges, and their significance in clinical practice.

Basic Metabolic Panel (Chem 7)

Measures sodium, potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and glucose.

Sodium (Na+)

Normal range is 135-145 mEq/L; vital for nerve and muscle function.

Potassium (K+)

Normal range is 3.5-5.0 mEq/L; essential for cell metabolism and muscle function.

Chloride (Cl-)

Normal range is 98-106 mEq/L; helps regulate body fluid and maintain acid-base balance.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) content

Normal range is 22-26 mEq/L; involved in acid-base balance.

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)

Normal range is 10-20 mg/dL; waste product filtered by the kidneys.

Creatinine

Normal range is 0.6-1.2 mg/dL; indicates kidney function.

Glucose

Normal range is 74-110 mg/dL; critical energy source, hypoglycemia is less than 70mg/dL.

HgA1C

Less than 5.7% is normal; diabetics should be less than 6.5%.

Calcium (Ca2+)

Normal range is 8.6-10 mg/dL; essential for muscles, nerves, heart, blood clotting.

Magnesium (Mg2+)

Normal range is 1.6-2.6 mg/dL; beneficial for bone health and cardiovascular health.

Phosphate (PO4-)

Normal range is 3-4.5 mg/dL; important for cellular functions.

Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)

Normal range is 30-120 U/L; elevated levels may indicate liver disease.

ALT (Alanine Amino Transferase)

Normal range is 4-36 U/L; useful for detecting liver damage.

AST (Aspartate Amino Transferase)

Normal range is 0-35 U/L; also indicates liver damage.

Total Bilirubin

Normal is less than 1.5 mg/dL; waste product from red blood cell breakdown.

Albumin

Normal range is 3.5-5.0 g/dL; maintains fluid balance in the body.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Includes RBC, WBC, HGB, HCT, and PLT counts.

Leukocytosis

Increased WBC count, usually indicates infection.

Leukopenia

Decreased WBC count, may indicate bone marrow failure.

Thrombocytosis

High platelet count, indicates increased clotting.

Thrombocytopenia

Low platelet count, increases bleeding risk.

Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs)

Assess blood pH, PCO2, PO2, presents normal ranges.

Total Cholesterol

Normal is less than 200 mg/dL.

Triglycerides

Normal is less than 160 mg/dL.

Pulse Oximetry

Normal range is 92-100%.

Normal Pulse Rate

Normal range is 60-100 bpm.

Normal Respiratory Rate

Normal range is 12-20 breaths per minute.

Systolic Blood Pressure

Normal range is 100-130 mmHg.