Name of Test
Purpose
BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)
Indirect measure kidney function
Creatinine (Cr)
Diagnose impaired kidney function
Specific Gravity (Urinalysis)
Measure urine particle concentration
Amylase (AMS)
Detects & monitors pancreatitis
Normal Range
High Results Mean
Low Results Mean
10 – 20 20
Low blood volume/ dehydration, shock, HF, kidney disease, drug toxicity
Liver failure, cirrhosis, overhydration, nephrotic syndrome
Kidney disease, heart failure, muscle disease
Debilitation, decreased muscle mass
1.010 – 1.030 1.030
Dehydration, pituitary tumor, hypotension, HF, liver failure
Distal renal tubular disease, polycystic kidney disease, overhydration, diabetes insipidus
60 – 120 120
Pancreatitis Too much insulin production/overdose, hypothyroidism, Addison's, liver disease
1.2 Male: 0.6 – 1.2 Female:
0.5 – 1.1 1.1
Glucose (serum)
Blood sugar level
70 – 105 105
Diabetes, stress response, Cushing's, hyperthyroidism, acute/chronic pancreatitis
Cholesterol (serum)
Risk for CAD
< 200
Family high cholesterol/lipid
Malabsorption,malnutrition
Illness, high altitude, congenital heart disease, COPD
Anemia, hemorrhage, liver cirrhosis
CBC Male: 4.5 – 5.3 5.3
RBC
Evaluate anemia
WBC
Evaluates infection or immunosuppression
5,000 – 10,000
Infection, leukemic cancer, steroid usage, severe sepsis
Drug toxicity, bone marrow failure, overwhelming infections, lupus
Rapid indirect measurement of RBC count Indirect measurement of red blood cell number and volume
18 Male: 13 – 18
Congenital heart disease, dehydration, COPD
Anemia, cirrhosis, hemorrhage
Congenital heart disease, dehydration, COPD
Anemia, cirrhosis, hemorrhage
Malignant disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, anemia
Hemorrhage, infection, cancer therapy
Hemoglobin (Hgb)
Hematocrit (Hct) Platelet
Blood ability to clot
Female:
Female:
4.1 – 5.1 5.1
12 – 16 16
52% Male: 42 – 52% 46% Female36 – 46% 150,000 – 400,000
Coagulation Studies PT
Tests extrinsic clotting
11 – 15 15 seconds
Tests coagulation mechanisms
60 – 70 70 seconds
(Activated PTT)
More sensitive than PTT
30 – 45 45 seconds
INR
Test for coagulation
> 1.5 – 2.0 2.0
(Prothrombin time)
PTT (Partial thromboplastin time)
APTT
(International Normalized Ratio)
D-Dimer
*Higher for prosthetic valve
Assess for breakdown of a venous clot (DVT, PE)
< 0.5
Anticoagulation therapy, DIC, hepatic disease, malabsorption Deficiency factors, anticoagulation therapy
Blood too thin, warfarin (Coumadin) therapy DIC, recent surgery, active or recent bleeding, TE, pregnancy, liver disease, inflammation, malignancy, hypercoagulable states
Digitalis therapy, diuretic action, vitamin K therapy Extensive cancer, DIC
Blood too thick
Electrolytes 8.6 – 10.2
Hyperparathyroidism, metastatic tumor to bone, Paget's disease
97 – 107
Dehydration, hyperventilation, DM
3.5 – 5.0
Excessive intake, kidney disease/failure, Addison's, DKA
Sodium (Na)
Fluid/Electrolyte status
135 – 145
Increased intake, Cushing's, excessive sweating, diabetes insipidus
Magnesium (Mg)
Ca/Phosphorus balance
1.3 – 2.3
Renal failure, elderly, antacid overuse
Calcium (Ca)
Parathyroid function & Ca2+ metabolism
Chloride (Cl)
Acid-base status and hydration status
Potassium (K)
Fluid/Electrolyte status, heart function
Hypoparathyroidism, renal failure, vitamin D defic. Overhydration, HF, pyloric obstruction, respiratory acidosis Deficient intake, diuretics (thiazide), Cushing's, hyperadlosteronism, steroid therapy, malignant HTN, cirrhosis with ascites, chronic diarrhea/vomiting Decreased dietary intake, Addison's, excessive water intake, vomiting/diarrhea, HF, burns, thoracentesis, ascites, SIADH Profound GI losses (suction, diarrhea), small bowel changes, alcoholics, loop diuretics, antibiotics
Liver Function Tests (LFTs) 4 – 36
Hepatitis, hepatic necrosis, cirrhosis, hepatic tumor, obstructive jaundice
0 – 35
Heart diseases, liver diseases, skeletal muscle diseases, anemia, pancreatitis
Acute renal disease, beriberi, pregnancy, diabetic ketoacidosis, chronic renal dialysis
Detect & monitor diseases of the liver or bone
30 – 120
Primary cirrhosis, liver tumor, Paget’s disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, myocardial infarction
Scurvy, pernicious anemia, malnutrition, hypophosphatemia, milkalkali syndrome
Albumin
Diagnose, evaluate, monitor cancer, immune dx, liver dx, nutrition, edema
3.5 – 5
Dehydration
Malnutrition, liver disease, pregnancy, overhydration
Bilirubin
Evaluates liver function and patients with hemolytic anemias
0.3 – 1.0
Gallstones, extrahepatic duct obstruction, liver metastasis, cholestasis from drugs, Dubin-Johnson syndrome, anemias, cirrhosis
Ammonia (serum)
Supports diagnosis of liver disease
80 – 110
Liver disease, Reye's Syndrome
ALT
Identify diseases of the liver
AST (Aspartate transaminase)
Evaluate suspected coronary artery occlusive disease or hepatocellular disease
ALP (Alkaline phosphatase)
Essential or malignant hypertension
