LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING

Accepted Lab Values Adapted from Kaplan

Lab Normal Value S & S of ↓ S & S of ↑
Sodium 135-145mEq/L Nausea, muscle cramps, ICP, Elevated temp, weakness,
confusion, muscle twitching, disorientation, delusions,
convulsion hallucinations, thirst, dry swollen
tongue, tachycardia, hypotension
Potassium 3.5-5.0mEq/L Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, EKG EKG changes, cardiac arrest,
changes, muscle weakness, muscle weakness, paralysis,
paresthesias nausea, diarrhea
Chloride 95-105mEq/L Decreased levels with decreased Elevated levels are related to
serum albumin may indicate water acidosis as well as too much water
deficiency crossing the cell crossing the cell membrane.
membrane (edema).
CO2 24-30mEq/L The CO2 level is related to the
respiratory exchange of carbon
dioxide in the lungs and is part of the
body’s buffering system. Generally
when used with the other
electrolytes, it is a good indicator of
acidosis and alkalinity.
Glucose 60-100 mg/dL fasting Insulin reaction: Diabetic Ketoacidosis:
Infants 40-50mg/dL; Irritable, confusion, tremors, blurred HA, drowsiness, weakness, stupor,
>125 hyperglycemia, vision, coma, seizures, hypotension, coma, hypotension, tachycardia,
>150 in preterm tachycardia, skin cool & clammy, skin warm & dry, elevated temp,
diaphoretic polyuria progressing to oliguria,
polydipsia, polyphagia,
Kussmaul’s respirations, fruity
odor
BUN 8-20 mg/dL Decreased levels may be due to a Increases can be caused by
poor diet, malabsorption, liver excessive protein intake, kidney
damage or low nitrogen intake. damage, certain drugs, low fluid
intake, intestinal bleeding, exercise
or heart failure.
Creatinine Adult 0.6-1.5 mg/dL Low levels are sometimes seen in Elevated levels are sometimes seen
kidney damage, protein starvation, in kidney disease due to the
liver disease or pregnancy. kidney’s job of excreting
creatinine, muscle degeneration,
and some drugs involved in
impairment of kidney function.
Albumin 3.5-5.0 g/dL Lower levels are seen in poor diets, High levels are seen in liver
diarrhea, fever, infection, liver disease (rarely), shock,
disease, inadequate iron intake, third- dehydration, or multiple myeloma.
degree burns and edemas or
hypocalcemia
Ionized 4.5-5.2 mg/dL Nervous system excitable, tetany, Sedative effect, muscle weakness,
Calcium seizures, confusion, parathesias, lack of coordination, constipation,
irritability; Trousseau’s sign abdominal pain & distension,
Total 8.5-10.5 mg/dL
confusion, depressed or absent
Serum tendon reflexes, dysrhytmias
Calcium
Lab Normal Value S & S of ↓ S & S of ↑
Magnesium 1.5-3.0 U/L Mag acts as a depressant so low mg High mg
- tremors, seizures, tetany, - depressed CNS
- dysrhythmias, depression, - depressed cardiac
confusion impulse
- dysphagia - hypotension
- facial flushing
- absent deep tendon
reflexes, muscle
weakness
- shallow, slow respirations
RBC Men 4.6-6.2 Anemia (various types), hemorrhage Congenital heart disease, cor
million/mm8 (bleeding, bone marrow failure (for pulmonale, pulmonary fibrosis,
Women 4.2-5.4 example, from radiation, toxin, polycythemia vera, dehydration
Children 3.2-5.2 fibrosis, tumor), erythropoietin (such as from severe diarrhea),
deficiency (secondary to kidney kidney disease with high
disease), hemolysis (RBC erythropoietin production
destruction) from transfusion
reaction, leukemia, multiple
myeloma, malnutrition
WBC Adults 5,000- Bone marrow failure (for example, Infectious diseases, inflammatory
10,000/mm8 due to infection, tumor, fibrosis), disease (such as rheumatoid
Children 5,000- presence of cytotoxic substance, arthritis or allergy), leukemia,
13,000 collagen-vascular diseases (such as severe emotional or physical
lupus erythematosus), disease of the stress, tissue damage (for example,
liver or spleen, radiation burns), anemia
HGB Men 13-18 gm/dL Anemia, bleeding, erythropoietin, Heart disease, cor pulmonale,
Women 12-15 gm/dL lead poisoning, malnutrition polycythemia vera, pulmonary
Children 11-12.5 fibrosis
gm/dL
HCT Men 42 – 50% Anemia, bleeding, bone marrow Dehydration, erythrocytosis,
Women 40-48% suppression, leukemia, multiple polychthemia vera
Children 35-45% myeloma, rheumatoid arthritis,
malnutrition
Platelets 100,000- Thrombocytopenia; low production Thrombocytosis:
400,000/mm8 of platelets in the bone marrow, Polycythemia vera, post-
increased breakdown of platelets in splenectomy syndrome, primary
the bloodstream, spleen or liver thrombocytosis, certain
malignancies, early CML, anemia
PT 9.5-12 seconds An abnormal result is most often due Bleeding disorder or effective
to liver disease, vitamin K Coumadin therapy
deficiency or oral anticoagulant
therapy.
PTT 20-45 seconds Measures clotting time Bleeding, effectiveness of Heparin
Therapeutic range therapy
1.5-2 x normal
Urine Spec 1.010-1.030 Dilute urine Concentrated urine
Gravity

CVP 3-11 cm water Hypovolemia Hypervolemia or poor cardiac

contractility
Lab Normal Value S & S of ↓ S & S of ↑
ABG’s 7.35-7.45 Acidosis Alkalosis
pH
PaCO2 35-45 mm Hg Low with pH – High with ↓ pH –
Respiratory alkalosis Respiratory acidosis
PaO2 80-100 mm Hg Hypoxia
HCO3 22-26 mEq/L Low with ↓ pH – High with pH –
Metabolic acidosis Metabolis alkalosis
BE +/- 1 Hypovolemia Hypervolemia
O2 Sat 95-99% Hypoxia