Description of All Lab Values

Sodium (Na+)

• constitutes 90% of cations in the ECF

• responsible for determining osmotic pressure

• helps maintain acid-base balance

Potassium (P+)

• Major cation in the ICF

• regulated by the kidneys

• essential for cardiac, muscle, and CNS function

Chloride (Cl-)

• strong acid

• major anion in ECF

• passively follows sodium and water

• necessary for potassium retention and transport of CO2

• high doses of NSS can cause high levels of this

Serum Bicarbonate (CO2)

• total amount of CO2 carried in this form

• comprised of 95% CO2

• refer to acid-base formula

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)

• indication of renal health

• is a waste product of the liver

• couple with creatinine for an accurate indicator of renal health

Creatinine (Cr)

• indication of muscle breakdown

• indicates kidney function by identifying glomerular filtration rate (GFR)

• high readings indicate hypovolemia

Glucose

• primary source of energy

• insulin regulation from pancreas

Calcium (Ca+)

• essential for blood coagulation, endocrine, and neuro function

• parathyroid, thyroid, and vit D influence these values

• kidney disease will cause a decrease in this

• inverse relationship with P+

Alkaline Phosphatase (ALK PHOS)

• enzyme found in bones, liver, and kidneys

• crucial component in the breakdown of proteins

Albumin

• essential protein produced by the liver

• protein that maintains oncotic pressure in the blood vessels

• considered a weak acid

• can alter acid-base balance

ALT

• found in the liver

• plays a crucial role in the breakdown of amino acids

• liver function indicator = should be considered with AST

AST

• enzyme found in the liver and the heart

• released in the bloodstream with tissue damage

• can be an indicator of liver or heart damage

Red Blood Cells (RBC)

• erythrocyte

Hemoglobin (Hgb)

• oxygen carrying capacity of RBCs

• carries CO2 back to the lungs as carboxyhemoglobin

Hematocrit (Hct)

• percentage of volume made up of RBCs

• Normal range is 3x hgb

Indices

• Measures the characteristics of the erythrocyte

• mean corpuscular volume

• mean corpuscular hemoglobin

• red cell distribution width

Mean Corpuscular Volume

• average size of RBC

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin

• amount of Hgb per RBC

Red Cell Distribution Width

• measurement in the variation in the RBC size

• used to diagnose different forms of anemia

Platelets

• formed in the bone marrow

• essential for blood clotting

White Blood Cells (WBC)

• responds to an inflammatory process

• when abnormal the differential count is utilized to measure which types of WBC is affected

Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas

Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, Basophils

Internal Normalized Ratio (INR)

• COUMADIN

• Measurement of how long it takes blood to clot compared to a standard rate

• often used to monitor effects of blood thinning agent

Prothrombin Time (PT)

• blood test that measure the time it takes for plasma to clot

• used in combination with INR, which standardizes the results, allowing for consistent interpretation

Partial Prothrombin Time (PTT)

• HEPARIN

• measures the functioning of the intrinsic and common clotting pathways which involves several clotting factors

Ammonia

• waste product produced by the body during the breakdown of proteins

• elevated levels = possible liver disfunction

Serum Osmolality

• amount of solute in the serum part of blood

• regulated by withholding or secreting ADH

• It is a measure of the body's electrolyte balance and hydration status

• High: Diabetes Insipidus

• Low: SIADH

Urine Specific Gravity

• measurement of the concentration of the urine

• ratio of urine density & water density

• High: hemoconcentrated state = SIADH

• Low: Dilutional state = Diabetes insipidus

Troponin 1

• protein that is essential for muscle contraction

• calcium binding site

• elevated levels noticed several hours after the start of an MI

Creatine kinase - muscle brain (CK-MB)

• found in cardiac muscle and some skeletal

• compare to total CK

• High = cardiac damage

proBNP

• secreted by the cardiomyocytes based on ventricular stretch

• used as a marker in CHF patients

Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)

• predominant ketone body at the onset of DKA

• allows for earlier identification of DKA

Magnesium (Mg)

• found in 50% bone or 45% intracellular

• correlated with deficits in Ca+ or K+

• High = renal failure; loss of DTRs

• Low = seen in > 50% pts in ICU and causes neuromuscular irritability and mood changes

Phosphorus (P)

• provides mineral strength to the bone

• strong relationship with potassium and calcium

• high = see in acidotic states and can result in tetany, seizures, and/or hypotension; see in kidney disease pts