13.3: Common Laboratory Values for Adults

Test	Abbreviation	Reference Range	Indicates
Alanine Amino Transferase	ALT	4-40 U/L Males 4-31 U/L Females	HIGH w/ Hepatitis, jaundice, cirrhosis, hepatic cancer, severe burns, trauma, mononucleosis, pancreatitis,
Albumin	Alb	3.5 – 5.0 g/dl	HIGH w/ dehydration LOW w/ malnutrition, surgery, edema, diarrhea, burns, stress, over-hydration, cancer, hepatic disease
Alkaline Phosphatase	alk phos, ALP	40 – 120 U/L	HIGH w/ hepatic disease
Ammonia	NH3	<50 mcg/dl	HIGH w/ hepatic disease, heart failure, pulmonary emphysema, high protein diet, vigorous exercise
Amylase		35 – 115 U/L	HIGH w/ acute pancreatitis, perforated peptic ulcer, renal insufficiency LOW w/ hepatitis, cirrhosis, pancreatic insufficiency
Aspartate Amino Transferase	AST	10-37 U/L Males 10-31 U/L Females	HIGH w/ cell injury/death (MI, acute cirrhosis, hepatitis, pancreatitis, cancer, alcoholism, burns, trauma) LOW w/ uncontrolled DM, beriberi
Blood Urea Nitrogen	BUN	8-20 mg/dl	HIGH w/ renal failure, shock, dehydration, infection LOW w/ hepatic failure, malnutrition, over hydration
Calcium	Ca+	8.9 - 10.1 mg/dl	HIGH w/ cancer, hyperthyroidism, adrenal insufficiency LOW w/ hypoalbuminemia, elevated phosphorus, alkalosis, diarrhea, starvation
Chloride	Cl	97-107mEq/L	HIGH w/dehydration, eclampsia, anemia, hyperventilation LOW w/ diabetic acidosis, fever, acute infection
C-Reactive Protein	CRP	.08-3.1 mg/L	HIGH w/ acute and chronic inflammation
Cholesterol HDL LDL	Chol	120-199mg/dl 40 - 60 mg/dl <100 mg/dl	>200mg total cholesterol indicates increased risk for heart disease Low HDL indicates increased risk of heart disease High LDL indicates increased risk for heart disease
Creatinine	crea	0.4 – 1.2 mg/dl	HIGH w/ acute & chronic renal disease, muscle damage, hyperthyroidism LOW w/ pregnancy
Creatinine Phosphokinase	CPK, CK	40-175 U/L Males 25-140 U/L Females	HIGH w/ MI, acute CVA, hypothyroidism, vigorous exercise
Ferritin		20-300 ng/ml Males 20 –120 ng/ml Females	HIGH w/ inflammatory diseases, chronic renal disease, iron overload, hemochromatosis LOW w/ iron deficiency anemia
Folic Acid	Folate, Fol	2 – 10 ng/ml	LOW w/ megaloblastic & hemolytic anemias, malnutrition, malabsorption, hyperthyroidism, Vit C deficiency
Glucose	Gluc, FBS	70-100 mg/dl	HIGH w/ DM, hyperthyroidism LOW w/ insulin overdose, hypothyroidism
Glycated Hemoglobin	HbA1c	<6%	HIGH w/ poorly controlled DM LOW w/ sickle-cell anemia and malnutrition
Hematocrit	HCT	40-54% Males 36-47% Females	HIGH w/ dehydration LOW w/ anemia, blood loss, over hydration
Hemoglobin	Hb	13.5 – 18 gm/dl Males 12-16 gm/dl Females	HIGH w/ severe burns, CHF, COPD, dehydration LOW w/ anemia, hyperthyroidism, cirrhosis, HIV
Lactic Dehydrogenase	LDH, LD	105 – 230 U/L	HIGH w/ MI, leukemia, megaloblastic or hemolytic anemia, pulmonary infarction, cancer, renal failure, mononucleosis
Lipase		16-63 U/L	HIGH w/ acute pancreatitis, renal insufficiency LOW w/ viral hepatitis, protein malnutrition
Lymphocyte		15-43% or 800 – 3100 /microliter	HIGH w/ bacterial infection, hemorrhage, trauma, cancer LOW w/ viral infections, chemotherapy, HIV
Magnesium	Mg	1.3 – 2.1 mEq/L	HIGH w/ renal failure, diabetic acidosis, hypothyroidism, dehydration LOW w/ chronic diarrhea, alcoholism, pancreatitis, renal disease, hyperthyroidism, ulcerative colitis,
Phosphorus	P	2.3 – 4.3 mg/dl	HIGH w/ ESRD, hypocalcemia, LOW w/ hyperparathyroidism, alcoholism, rickets, gout
Potassium	K+	3.8-5.5 mEq/L	HIGH w/ renal failure, tissue damage, uncontrolled DM, LOW w/ GI loss, alcohol abuse, malnutrition, diarrhea, vomiting, diuretic use
Prealbumin	Prealb	19-43 mg/dl	HIGH w/ renal failure LOW w/ acute catabolic states, hepatic disease, stress, infection, surgery, malnutrition, low protein intake
Red Blood Cell Count	RBC	4.7 – 6.1 million/mm Male 3.9 – 5.5 Female	HIGH w/ dehydration, severe diarrhea LOW w/ anemia, hemorrhage, Fe deficiency, systemic disease
Retinol-Binding Protein	RBP	2.1-6.4 mg/dl	LOW w/ liver disease, malnutrition
Sodium	Na++	135-145 mEq/L	HIGH w/ dehydration LOW w/ edema, severe burns, severe diarrhea/vomiting, diuretics, water intoxication
Tissue Transglutaminase	tTG	<4.0 U/mL	HIGH w/ celiac disease
Total Protein	TP	6.0- 8.0 gm/dl	HIGH w/ dehydration, diseases that globulin LOW w/ protein deficiency, severe hepatic disease, malabsorption, diarrhea, nephritic syndrome
Triglycerides	TG	<150 mg/dl – desirable	HIGH w/ hyperlipidemia, hepatic disease, pancreatitis, poorly controlled DM, hypothyroidism, MI, alcoholism LOW w/ malnutrition, hyperthyroidism,
Uric Acid		3.7 – 7.8 mg/dl Male 2.5 – 6.1 mg/dl Female	HIGH w/ renal failure, gout, anorexia, leukemia, acute infectious disease, shock, diabetic ketosis, stress LOW w/ use of Gout drugs, cancer
Vitamin A		20-100 ug/dl	LOW w/ liver disease, pancreatic insufficiency
Vitamin B12		110-800 pg/ml	LOW w/ terminal ileal disease, gastric disease, pernicious anemia, excess folate intake, in elderly individuals
Vitamin D		30-100 ng/dl	LOW w/ liver disease, parathyroid disease, pancreatic insufficiency, small bowel disease, individuals with dark skin, elderly individuals, esp. nursing home patients
Vitamin E		5.5-18 ug/dl	LOW w/ liver disease, pancreatic insufficiency
White Blood Cells	WBC	4000-10,900/ml	HIGH w/ leukemia, bacterial infection, hemorrhage, cancer LOW w/ viral infection, chemotherapy, radiation, HIV
Zinc	Zn	50-291 mcg/dL Male 65-256 mcg/dL Female	HIGH w/ CHD, arteriosclerosis LOW w/ malnutrition, severe diarrhea, dialysis, IBD, nephritic syndrome, trauma