Reference Values ​​Blood Chemistry Examination

TEST	NORMAL VALUE*	CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)	7-18 mg/dL	Increased in renal disease and dehydration; decreased in liver damage and malnutrition
Carbon dioxide (CO2) (includes bicarbonate)	23-30 mmol/L	Useful to evaluate acid-base balance by measuring total carbon dioxide in the blood: Elevated in vomiting and pulmonary disease; decreased in diabetic acidosis, acute renal failure, and hyperventilation
Chloride (Cl)	98-106 mEq/L	Increased in dehydration, hyperventilation, and congestive heart failure; decreased in vomiting,diarrhea, and fever
Creatinine	0.6-1.2 mg/dL	Produced at a constant rate and excreted by the kidney; increased in kidney disease
Glucose	Fasting: 70-110 mg/dL Random: 85-125 mg/dL	Increased in diabetes and severe illness; decreased in insulin overdose or hypoglycemia
Potassium (K)	3.5-5 mEq/L	Increased in renal failure, extensive cell damage, and acidosis; decreased in vomiting, diarrhea, and excess administration of diuretics or IV fluids
Sodium (Na)	101-111 mEq/L or 135-148 mEq/L (depending on test)	Increased in dehydration and diabetes insipidus; decreased in overload of IV fluids, burns,diarrhea, or vomiting
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)	10-40 U/L	Used to diagnose and monitor treatment of liver disease and to monitor the effects of drugs on the liver; increased in myocardial infarction
Albumin	3.8-5.0 g/dL	Albumin holds water in blood; decreased in liver disease and kidney disease
Albumin-globulin ratio (A/G ratio)	Greater than 1	Low A/G ratio signifies a tendency for edema because globulin is less effective than albumin at holding water in the blood
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)	20-70 U/L (varies by method)	Enzyme of bone metabolism; increased in liver disease and metastatic bone disease
Amylase	21-160 U/L	Used to diagnose and monitor treatment of acute pancreatitis and to detect inflammation of the salivary glands
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)	0-41 U/L (varies)	Enzyme present in tissues with high metabolic activity; increased in myocardial infarction and liver disease
Bilirubin, total	0.2-1.0 mg/dL	Breakdown product of hemoglobin from red blood cells; increased when excessive red blood cells are being destroyed or in liver disease
Calcium (Ca)	8.8-10.0 mg/dL	Increased in excess parathyroid hormone production and in cancer; decreased in alkalosis, elevated phosphate in renal failure, and excess IV fluids
Cholesterol	120-220 mg/dL desirable range	Screening test used to evaluate risk of heart disease; levels of 200 mg/dL or above indicate increased risk of heart disease and warrant further investigation
Creatine phosphokinase (CPK or CK)	Men: 38-174 U/L Women: 96-140 U/L	Elevated enzyme level indicates myocardial infarction or damage to skeletal muscle. When elevated,specific fractions (isoenzymes) are tested for
Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)	Men: 6-26 U/L Women: 4-18 U/L	Used to diagnose liver disease and to test for chronic alcoholism
Globulins	2.3-3.5 g/dL	Proteins active in immunity; help albumin keep water in blood
Iron, serum (Fe)	Men: 75-175 g/dL Women:65-165 /dL	Decreased in iron deficiency and anemia; increased in hemolytic conditions
High-density lipoproteins (HDLs)	Men: 30-70 mg/dL Women:30-85 mg/dL	Used to evaluate the risk of heart disease
Lactic dehydrogenase(LDH or LD)	95-200 U/L (Normal ranges vary greatly)	Enzyme released in many kinds of tissue damage, including myocardial infarction, pulmonary infarction, and liver disease
Lipase	4-24 U/L (varies with test)	Enzyme used to diagnose pancreatitis
Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs)	80-140 mg/dL	Used to evaluate the risk of heart disease
Magnesium (Mg)	1.3-2.1 mEq/L	Vital in neuromuscular function; decreased levels may occur in malnutrition, alcoholism, pancreatitis, diarrhea
Phosphorus ((Page*)) (inorganic)	2.7-4.5 mg/dL	Evaluated in response to calcium; main store is in bone: elevated in kidney disease; decreased in excess parathyroid hormone
Protein, total	6-8 g/dL	Increased in dehydration, multiple myeloma;decreased in kidney disease, liver disease, poor nutrition, severe burns, excessive bleeding
Serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT)	>	See Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT)	>	See Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
Thyroxin (T4)	5-12.5 g/dL (varies)	Screening test of thyroid function; increased in hyperthyroidism; decreased in myxedema and hypothyroidism
Thyroid-stimulatinghormone (TSH)	0.5-6 mlU/L	Produced by pituitary to promote thyroid gland function; elevated when thyroid gland is not functioning
Triiodothyronine (T3)	120-195 mg/dL	Elevated in specific types of hyperthyroidism
Triglycerides	Men: 40-160 mg/dL Women: 35-135 mg/dL	An indication of ability to metabolize fats; increased triglycerides and cholesterol indicate high risk of atherosclerosis
Uric acid	Men: 3.5-7.2 mg/dL Women:2.6-6.0 mg/dL	Produced by breakdown of ingested purines in food and nucleic acids; elevated in kidney disease, gout, and leukemia