Normal Laboratory Values

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Normal Laboratory Values

In the following tables, normal reference values for commonly requested laboratory tests are listed in traditional units and in SI units. The tables are a guideline only. Values are method dependent and “normal values” may vary between laboratories.

Blood, Plasma or Serum
Determination Reference Value
Conventional units SI units
Ammonia (NH3) - diffusion 20–120 mcg/dl 12–70 mcmol/L
Ammonia Nitrogen 15–45 µg/dl 11–32 µmol/L
Amylase 35–118 IU/L 0.58–1.97 mckat/L
Anion gap (Na+-[Cl - + HCO3-]) (P) 7–16 mEq/L 7–16 mmol/L
Antithrombin III (AT III) 80–120 U/dl 800–1200 U/L
Bicarbonate: Arterial
  Venous
21–28 mEq/L
22–29 mEq/L		 21–28 mmol/L
22–29 mmol/L
Bilirubin: Conjugated (direct) Total £ 0.2 mg/dl0.1–1 mg/dl £ 4 mcmol/L2–18 mcmol/L
Calcitonin < 100 pg/ml < 100 ng/L
Calcium: Total
  Ionized
8.6–10.3 mg/dl
4.4–5.1 mg/dl		 2.2–2.74 mmol/L
1–1.3 mmol/L
Carbon dioxide content (plasma) 21–32 mmol/L 21–32 mmol/L
Carcinoembryonic antigen < 3 ng/ml < 3 mcg/L
Chloride 95–110 mEq/L 95–110 mmol/L
Coagulation screen:
    Bleeding time
    Prothrombin time
    Partial thromboplastin time (activated)
    Protein C
    Protein S
3–9.5 min
10–13 sec
22–37 sec
0.7–1.4 µ/ml
0.7–1.4 µ/ml
180–570 sec
10–13 sec
22–37 sec
700–1400 U/ml
700–1400 U/ml
Copper, total 70–160 mcg/dl 11–25 mcmol/L
Corticotropin (ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone) - 0800 hr < 60 pg/ml < 13.2 pmol/L
Cortisol: 0800 hr
  1800 hr
  2000 hr
5–30 mcg/dl
2–15 mcg/dl
£ 50% of 0800 hr		 138–810 nmol/L
50–410 nmol/L
£ 50% of 0800 hr
Creatine kinase: Female
  Male
20–170 IU/L
30–220 IU/L		 0.33–2.83 mckat/L
0.5–3.67 mckat/L
Creatinine kinase isoenzymes, MB fraction 0–12 IU/L 0–0.2 mckat/L
Creatinine 0.5–1.7 mg/dl 44–150 mcmol/L
Fibrinogen (coagulation factor I) 150–360 mg/dl 1.5–3.6 g/L
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH):
    Female
    Midcycle
    Male
2–13 mlU/ml
5–22 mlU/ml
1–8 mlU/ml
2–13 IU/L
5–22 IU/L
1–8 IU/L
Glucose, fasting 65–115 mg/dl 3.6–6.3 mmol/L
Glucose Tolerance Test (Oral)

Fasting
60 min
90 min
120 min
mg/dl
Normal Diabetic
70–105 > 140
120–170 ³ 200
100–140 ³ 200
70–120 ³ 140
mmol/L
Normal Diabetic
3.9–5.8 > 7.8
6.7–9.4 ³ 11.1
5.6–7.8 ³ 11.1
3.9–6.7 ³ 7.8
(g) -Glutamyltransferase (GGT):
    Male
    Female
9–50 units/L
8–40 units/L
9–50 units/L
8–40 units/L
Haptoglobin 44–303 mg/dl 0.44–3.03 g/L
Determination Reference Value
Conventional units SI units
Hematologic tests:
    Fibrinogen
    Hematocrit (Hct), female
                                male
  Hemoglobin A 1C
  Hemoglobin (Hb), female
                               male
  Leukocyte count (WBC)
  Erythrocyte count (RBC), female
                                          male
  Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
  Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
  (MCH)
  Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
  concentrate (MCHC)
  Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
  (sedrate, ESR)
200–400 mg/dl
36%-44.6%
40.7%-50.3%
5.3%-7.5% of total Hgb
12.1–15.3 g/dl
13.8–17.5 g/dl
3800–9800/mcl
3.5–5 x 106/mcl
4.3–5.9 x 106/mcl
80–97.6 mcm3
27–33 pg/cell

33–36 g/dl

£30 mm/hr
2–4 g/L
0.36–0.446 fraction of 1
0.4–0.503 fraction of 1
0.053–0.075
121–153 g/L
138–175 g/L
3.8–9.8 x 109/L
3.5–5 x 1012/L
4.3–5.9 x 1012/L
80–97.6 fl
1.66–2.09 fmol/cell

20.3–22 mmol/L

£ 30 mm/hr
Erythrocyte enzymes: Glucose-6
    -phosphate dehydrognase
    (G-6-PD)
Ferritin
Folic acid: normal
Platelet count
Reticulocytes
Vitamin B12
250–5000 units/106 cells

10–383 ng/ml
>3.1–12.4 ng/ml
150–450 x 103/mcl
0.5%-1.5% of erythrocytes
223–1132 pg/ml
250–5000 mcunits/cell

23–862 pmol/L
7–28.1 nmol/L
150–450 x 109/L
0.005–0.015
165–835 pmol/L
Iron: Female
  Male
30–160 mcg/dl
45–160 mcg/dl		 5.4–31.3 mcmol/L
8.1–31.3 mcmol/L
Iron binding capacity 220–420 mcg/dl 39.4–75.2 mcmol/L
Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1.2–7 units/L 1.2–7 units/L
Isoenzymes
    Fraction 1
    Fraction 2
    Fraction 3
    Fraction 4
    Fraction 5
14%-26% of total
29%-39% of total
20%-26% of total
8%-16% of total
6%-16% of total
0.14–0.26 fraction of total
0.29–0.39 fraction of total
0.20–0.26 fraction of total
0.08–0.16 fraction of total
0.06–0.16 fraction of total
Lactate dehydrogenase 100–250 IU/L 1.67–4.17 mckat/L
Lactic acid (lactate) 6–19 mg/dl 0.7–2.1 mmol/L
Lead £ 50 mcg/dl £ 2.41 mcmol/L
Lipase 10–150 units/L 10–150 units/L
Lipids:
    Total Cholesterol
       Desirable
       Borderline-high
       High
    LDL
       Desirable
       Borderline-high
       High
    HDL (low)
    Triglycerides
       Desirable
       Borderline-high
       High
       Very high

< 200 mg/dl
200–239 mg/dl
> 239 mg/dl

< 130 mg/dl
130–159 mg/dl
> 159 mg/dl
< 35 mg/dl

< 200 mg/dl
200–400 mg/dl
400–1000 mg/dl
> 1000 mg/dl

< 5.2 mmol/L
< 5.2–6.2 mmol/L
> 6.2 mmol/L

< 3.36 mmol/L
3.36–4.11 mmol/L
> 4.11 mmol/L
< 0.91 mmol/L

< 2.26 mmol/L
2.26–4.52 mmol/L
4.52–11.3 mmol/L
> 11.3 mmol/L
Magnesium 1.3–2.2 mEq/L 0.65–1.1 mmol/L
Osmolality 280–300 mOsm/kg 280–300 mmol/kg
Oxygen saturation (arterial) 94%-100% 0.94 - fraction of 1
PCO2, arterial 35–45 mm Hg 4.7–6 kPa
pH, arterial 7.35–7.45 7.35–7.45
Determination Reference Value
Conventional units SI units
PO2, arterial: Breathing room air1
   On 100% O2		 80–105 mm Hg
> 500 mm Hg		 10.6–14 kPa
Phosphatase (acid), total at 37°C 0.13–0.63 IU/L 2.2–10.5 IU/L or
2.2–10.5 mckat/L
Phosphatase alkaline2 20–130 IU/L 20–130 IU/L or
0.33–2.17 mckat/L
Phosphorus, inorganic,3 (phosphate) 2.5–5 mg/dl 0.8–1.6 mmol/L
Potassium 3.5–5 mEq/L 3.5–5 mmol/L
Progesterone
   Female
     Follicular phase
     Luteal phase
   Male
0.1–1.5 ng/ml
0.1–1.5 ng/ml
2.5–28 ng/ml
< 0.5 ng/ml
0.32–4.8 nmol/L
0.32–4.8 nmol/L
8–89 nmol/L
< 1.6 nmol/L
Prolactin 1.4–24.2 ng/ml 1.4–24.2 mcg/L
Prostate specific antigen
Protein: Total
            Albumin
            Globulin		 0–4 ng/ml
6–8 g/dl
3.6–5 g/dl
2.3–3.5 g/dl		 0–4 ng/ml
60–80 g/L
36–50 g/L
23–35 g/L
Rheumatoid factor < 60 IU/ml < 60 kIU/L
Sodium 135–147 mEq/L 135–147 mmol/L
Testosterone: Female
                     Male		 6–86 ng/dl
270–1070 ng/dl		 0.21–3 nmol/L
9.3–37 nmol/L
Thyroid Hormone Function Tests:
  Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
  Thyroxine-binding globulin capacity
  Total triiodothyronine (T3)
  Total thyroxine by RIA (T4)
  T3 resin uptake
0.35–6.2 mcU/ml
10–26 mcg/dl
75–220 ng/dl
4–11 mcg/dl
25%-38%
0.35–6.2 mU/L
100–260 mcg/L
1.2–3.4 nmol/L
51–142 nmol/L
0.25–0.38 fraction of 1
Transaminase, AST (aspartate aminotransferase, SGOT) 11–47 IU/L 0.18–0.78 mckat/L
Transaminase, ALT (alanine aminotransferase, SGPT) 7–53 IU/L 0.12–0.88 mckat/L
Transferrin 220–400 mg/dL 2.20–4.00 g/L
Urea nitrogen (BUN) 8–25 mg/dl 2.9–8.9 mmol/L
Uric acid 3–8 mg/dl 179–476 mcmol/L
Vitamin A (retinol) 15–60 mcg/dl 0.52–2.09 mcmol/L
Zinc 50–150 mcg/dl 7.7–23 mcmol/L
1 Age dependent
2 Infants and adolescents up to 104 U/L
3 Infants in the first year up to 6 mg/dl

Urine
Determination Reference Value
Conventional units SI units
Calcium1 50–250 mcg/day 1.25–6.25 mmol/day
Catecholamines:
   Epinephrine
   Norepinephrine
< 20 mcg/day
< 100 mcg/day
< 109 nmol/day
< 590 nmol/day
Catecholamines, 24-hr < 110 µg < 650 nmol
Copper1 15–60 mcg/day 0.24–0.95 mcmol/day
Creatinine: Child
                 Adolescent
                 Female
                 Male		 8–22 mg/kg
8–30 mg/kg
0.6–1.5 g/day
0.8–1.8 g/day		 71–195 µmol/kg
71–265 µmol/kg
5.3–13.3 mmol/day
7.1–15.9 mmol/day
pH 4.5–8 4.5–8
Phosphate1 0.9–1.3 g/day 29–42 mmol/day
Potassium1 25–100 mEq/day 25–100 mmol/day
Protein
    Total
    At rest
1–14 mg/dL
50–80 mg/day
10–140 mg/L
50–80 mg/day
Protein, quantitative < 150 mg/day < 0.15 g/day
Sodium1 100–250 mEq/day 100–250 mmol/day
Specific gravity, random 1.002–1.030 1.002–1.030
Uric acid, 24-hr 250–750 mg 1.48–4.43 mmol
1 Diet dependent.

Drug Levels*
Drug Determination Reference Value
Conventional units SI units
Aminoglycosides Amikacin
   (trough)
   (peak)		 1–8 mcg/ml
1.7–13.7 mcmol/L		 20–30 mcg/ml
34–51 mcmol/L
Gentamicin
   (trough)
   (peak)		 0.5–2 mcg/ml
6–10 mcg/ml		 1–4.2 mcmol/L
12.5–20.9 mcmol/L
Kanamycin
   (trough)
   (peak)		 5–10 mcg/ml
20–25 mcg/ml		 nd1
nd
Netilimicin
   (trough)
   (peak)		 0.5–2 mcg/ml
6–10 mcg/ml		 nd
nd
Streptomycin
   (trough)
   (peak)		 < 5 mcg/ml
5–20 mcg/ml		 nd
nd
Tobramycin
   (trough)
   (peak)		 0.5–2 mcg/ml
5–20 mcg/ml		 1.1–4.3 mcmol/L
12.8–21.8 mcmol/L
Drug Determination Reference Value
Conventional units SI units
Antiarrhythmics Amiodarone 0.5–2.5 mcg/ml 1.5–4 mcmol/L
Bretylium 0.5–1.5 mcg/ml nd
Digitoxin 9–25 mcg/L 11.8–32.8 nmol/L
Digoxin 0.8–2 ng/ml 0.9–2.5 nmol/L
Disopyramide 2–8 mcg/ml 6–18 mcmol/L
Flecainide 0.2–1 mcg/ml nd
Lidocaine 1.5–6 mcg/ml 4.5–21.5 mcmol/L
Mexiletine 0.5–2 mcg/ml nd
Procainamide 4–8 mcg/ml 17–34 mcmol/ml
Propranolol 50–200 ng/ml 190–770 nmol/L
Quinidine 2–6 mcg/ml 4.6–9.2 mcmol/L
Tocainide 4–10 mcg/ml nd
Verapamil 0.08–0.3 mcg/ml nd
Anticonvulsants Carbamazepine 4–12 mcg/ml 17–51 mcmol/L
Phenobarbital 10–40 mcg/ml 43–172 mcmol/L
Phenytoin 10–20 mcg/ml 40–80 mcmol/L
Primidone 4–12 mcg/ml 18–55 mcmol/L
Valproic Acid 40–100 mcg/ml 280–700 mcmol/L
Antidepressants Amitriptyline 110–250 ng/ml2 500–900 nmol/L
Amoxapine 200–500 ng/ml nd
Bupropion 25–100 ng/ml nd
Clomipramine 80–100 ng/ml nd
Desipramine 115–300 ng/ml nd
Doxepin 110–250 ng/ml2 nd
Imipramine 225–350 ng/ml2 nd
Maprotiline 200–300 ng/ml nd
Nortriptyline 50–150 ng/ml nd
Protriptyline 70–250 ng/ml nd
Trazodone 800–1600 ng/ml nd
Antipsychotics Chlorpromazine 50–300 ng/ml 150–950 nmol/L
Fluphenazine 0.13–2.8 ng/ml nd
Haloperidol 5–20 ng/ml nd
Perphenazine 0.8–1.2 ng/ml nd
Thiothixene 2–57 ng/ml nd
Drug Determination Reference Value
Conventional units SI units
Miscellaneous Amantadine
Amrinone		 300 ng/ml
3.7 mcg/ml		 nd
nd
Chloramphenicol 10–20 mcg/ml 31–62 mcmol/L
Cyclosporine3 250–800 ng/ml
(whole blood, RIA)
50–300 ng/ml (plasma, RIA)		 nd
nd
Ethanol4 0 mg/dl 0 mmol/L
Hydralazine 100 ng/ml nd
Lithium 0.6–1.2 mEq/L 0.6–1.2 mmol/L
Salicylate 100–300 mg/L 724–2172 mcmol/L
Sulfonamide 5–15 mg/dl nd
Terbutaline 0.5–4.1 ng/ml nd
Theophylline 10–20 mcg/ml 55–110 mcmol/L
Vancomycin
   (trough)
   (peak)		 5–15 ng/ml
20–40 mcg/ml		 nd
nd
* The values given are generally accepted as desirable for treatment without toxicity for most patients. However, exceptions are not uncommon.
1 nd = No data available.
2 Parent drug plus N-desmethyl metabolite.
3 24–hour trough values.
4 Toxic: 50–100 mg/dl (10.9–21.7 mmol/L).

The following table is adopted from the Sixth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure, National Institutes of Health.

Classification of Blood Pressure*
Category Reference value
Systolic (mm Hg)   Diastolic (mm Hg)
Optimal1 < 120 and < 80
Normal < 130 and < 85
High-normal 130–139 or 85–89
Hypertension2
    Stage 1
    Stage 2
    Stage 3
140–159
160–179
³ 180
or
or
or
90–99
100–109
³ 110


* For adults age 18 and older who are not taking antihypertensive drugs and not acutely ill. When systolic and diastolic blood pressures fall into different categories, the higher category should be selected to classify the individual's blood pressure status. In addition to classifying stages of hypertension on the basis of average blood pressure levels, clinicians should specify presence or absence of target organ disease and additional risk factors.
1 Optimal blood pressure with respect to cardiovascular risk is below 120/88 m Hg. However, unusually low readings should be evaluated for clinical significance.
2 Based on the average of two or more readings taken at each of two or more visits after an initial screening.

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Copyright © 2003 Facts and Comparisons
David S. Tatro
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