Magnesium, serum: 1.8-3.0 mg/dL
panic: <0.5 or >4.5
High levels: dehydration, tissue trauma, renal failure, hypothyroidism, hypoadrenocorticism, drugs (eg. aspirin, lithium, magnesium salts, progesterone)
Low levels: diarrhea, starvation, hypoparathyroidism, hyperaldosteronism, diabetic ketoacidosis, acute pancreatitis, induced hypothermia, drugs (eg. albuterol, calcium salts, cyclosporine, diuretics)
Electrolyte Reference Ranges: *these tend to vary a bit by lab
Na: 135-145 mEq/L
Cl: 95-110 mEq/L
K: 3.5-5.2 mEq/L
Ca: 8.5-10.5 mg/dL
P: 2.5-4.5 mg/dL
Mg: 1.8-3.0 mg/dL
Immunoglobulins, serum:
IgA: 0.78-3.67 g/L *mucosal surfaces
IgG 5.83-17.6 g/L *late immunity
IgM 0.52-3.35 g/L *early immunity
High IgA: chronic infection (esp GI and respiratory), chronic liver disease
Low IgA: inherited IgA deficiency
High IgG: autoimmune disease, chronic liver disease, chronic infection
Low IgG: immunosuppressive therapy
High IgM: viral hepatitis, mononucleosis, other acute infection
Low IgM: immunosuppressive therapy
Hemoglobin (Hgb), whole blood: male 13.6-17.5, female 12.0-15.5 g/dL
panic: <7
Hematocrit (Hct), whole blood: male 39-49%, female 35-45%
High levels: hemoconcentration (eg. dehydration)
Low levels: iron deficiency anemia, hemolytic anemia, hemorrhage, thalassemia, folate deficiency, hypothyroidism
Glucose tolerance test (GTT), serum:
fasting <100
*give 75 g dose of glucose
1hr <200; 2hr <140
Increased glucose rise: diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes*, liver disease, hyperthyroidism, Cushing syndrome, pheochromocytoma, drugs (eg. diuretics, oral contraceptives, steroids, phenytoin)
Decreased glucose rise: adrenocortical insufficiency (eg. Addison disease, hypopituitarism), insulinoma
Glucose, serum: 60-110 mg/dL
panic: <40 or >500
High levels: diabetes mellitus, cushing syndrome, chronic pancreatitis, drugs (eg. steroids, estrogen, phenytoin, thiazides)
Low levels: insulinoma, adrenocortical insufficiency (eg. Addison disease, hypopituitarism), drugs (eg. insulin, ethanol, sulfonyureas, tolbutamide)
Fecal Occult Blood aka Stool Guaiac
Did you know?
Dietary meat, fish, turnips, and horseradish can cause a false positive result.
Vitamin C can cause a false negative result.
Creatinine, serum: 0.6-1.2 mg/dL
High levels: renal failure, urinary tract obstruction, nephrotoxic drugs, hypothyroidism
Low levels: decreased muscle mass
Creatinine clearance: 90-130 mL/min
Collect 24-hr urine.
High levels: exercise, acromegaly, infection, hypothyroidism
Low levels: renal failure, nephrotoxic drugs
Calcium, serum: 8.5-10.5 mg/dL
panic: <6.5 or >13.5
High levels: hyperparathyroidism, vitamin D excess, vitamin A intoxication, Addison disease, drugs (eg. antacids, thiazides, lithium)
Low levels: hypoparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, hyperphosphatemia, hypoalbuminemia (calcium binds to albumin)
Chloride, serum: 98-107 mEq/L
High levels: renal failure, dehydration, hyperparathyroidism, diabetes insipidus
Low levels: vomiting, diarrhea, GI suction, excessive sweating, SIADH, hyperaldosteronism, fluid overload, drugs (eg. diuretics, laxatives)
Carbon dioxide, partial pressure (pCO2): 32-48 mm Hg
High levels: respiratory acidosis
Low levels: respiratory alkalosis (eg. hyperventilation), salicylate poisoning
Carbon dioxide, bicarbonate (HCO3): 22-28 mEq/L
High levels: metabolic alkalosis, drugs (eg. diuretics)
Low levels: metabolic acidosis, volume overload
BUN/Cr ratio: 12:1-20:1
Increased ratio: dehydration, GI bleed
Decreased ratio: acute tubular necrosis, liver disease, low-protein diet
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), serum: 8-20 mg/dL
Urea is an end-product of protein metabolism and is excreted by the kidneys.
High levels: renal failure, urinary tract obstruction, dehydration, shock, nephrotoxic drugs (eg. gentamicin)
Low levels: liver failure, low-protein diet
Albumin, serum: 34-47 g/L
High levels: dehydration, shock, hemoconcentration
Low levels: liver disease, kidney disease, hemorrhage with fluid replacement, hemodilution (eg. from pregnancy, CHF)
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), serum: 0-35 units/L
Released with tissue damage, especially to the liver.
High levels: hepatitis, biliary tract obstruction, cirrhosis, liver abscess
Low levels: Vitamin B6 deficiency
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