Usual laboratory values
The usual values of the most prescribed adult tests (blood count, electrolytes, kidney function, glucose, liver tests, inflammation, clotting, blood gases) and what an abnormality should suggest. Ranges vary slightly between laboratories: always refer to those on the report.
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A few cards from the deck
Haemoglobin: what is it?
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About 13 to 17 g/dL in men, 12 to 16 g/dL in women.
Below that range, it is anaemia.
A patient has a potassium of 6.5 mmol/L. What comes first?
- Alert the doctor and do an ECG at once
- Nothing, it is normal
- Give them a banana
- Wait for the next test
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Alert the doctor and do an ECG at once
High potassium can cause cardiac arrest; also check the sample was not haemolysed.
White cells: what is it?
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About 4 to 10 G/L.
They rise in bacterial infections and fall on chemotherapy.
Why refer to the report's values rather than memorised figures?
- Memorised figures are wrong
- Reports have no ranges
- It is not necessary
- Ranges vary slightly between laboratories and methods
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Ranges vary slightly between laboratories and methods
Learnt orders of magnitude help spot an abnormality quickly.
Platelets: what is it?
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About 150 to 400 G/L.
Below 50 G/L, the risk of bleeding rises.
A patient has a sodium of 125 mmol/L. How is it described?
- Hypernatraemia
- Hyponatraemia
- A normal value
- Hyperkalaemia
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Hyponatraemia
It can cause confusion and seizures and is corrected slowly.