Quick lab reference guide

WBC: 4300-10800/mm3

*Increased (leukocytes): infection, Leukemic neoplasia, trauma, stress, tissue necrosis, inflammation:
*Decreased (leukopenia): Drug toxicity, Bone marrow failure, overwhelming infection, dietary
deficiency, autoimmune disease, bone marrow infiltration (myelofibrosis), congenital marrow aphasia

RBC: Males-4.6-6.2 million/mm Females- 4.2-5.9 million/mm3

*Increased: High altitude, congenital heart disease, polycythemia vera, dehydration/hemoconcentration,

cor pulmonale, Pulmonary fibrosis
*Decreased: hemorrhage, hemolysis, anemia, hemoglobinopathy, advanced cancer, bone marrow
fibrosis, leukemia, antineoplastic chemotherapy, chronic illness, renal failure, over hydration, multiple
myeloma, pernicious anemia, rheumatoid disease, subacute endocarditis, pregnancy, dietary deficiency

Hemoglobin- Males 14-18 g/dl Females 12-16 g/dl

*Increased: Congenital heart disease, polycythemia vera, hemoconcentration of the blood, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, CHF, high altitudes, severe burns, dehydration
*Decreased: Anemia, severe hemorrhage, hemolysis, hemoglobinopathies, cancer, nutritional
deficiency, lymphoma, systemic lupus, sarcoidosis, kidney disease, chronic hemorrhage, splenomegaly,
sickle cell anemia, neoplasia

Hematocrit- Males 42-52% Females-37-47%

*Increased: congenital heart disease, polycythemia vera, severe dehydration, erythrocytosis, severe
diarrhea, eclampsia, burns, dehydration, COPD
*Decreased: Anemia, Hyperthyroidism, cirrhosis, hemolytic reaction, hemorrhage, dietary deficiency,
bone marrow failure, normal pregnancy, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple myeloma, malnutrition, leukemia,
hemoglobinopathy.

Platelets: 150,000-400,000 /mm3

* Increased: malignant disorder, polycythemia vera, postsplenectomy syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis,

iron deficiency anemia
*Decreased: Hypersplenism, hemorrhage, immune thrombocytopmenia, leukemia and other
myelofibrosis, thrombotic thrombocytopenia, inherited thrombocytopenia disorders (Wiskott-Aldrich,
Bernard-Soulier or Zieve syndromes) Disseminated intra vascular coagulation, systemic lupus,
erythematosus, pernicious anemia, hemolytic anemia, cancer chemotherapy, infection.

PT: 11-12.5 seconds

*Increased: cirrhosis, hepatitis, vitamin K deficiency, salicylate intoxication, bile duct obstruction,
coumarin ingestion, DIC, Massive blood transfusion, hereditary factor deficiency.
*Decreased: none listed in lab book

INR: Therapeutic anticoagulation levels are PT ratios of 1.5-2 times the control value.
PTT: 21-35 seconds

*Increased: Acquired or congenital clotting factor deficiencies, cirrhosis of the liver, vitamin K
deficiency, leukemia, DIC, heparin administration, hypofibrinogenenemia-von Willebrand’s disease,
hemophilia

Sodium: 135-145 mEq/L

*Increased: dehydration, starvation, adrenocortical insufficiency, diuretic therapy, hypothyroidism,

syndrome of inappropriate secretion (SIADH), diabetic ketoacidosis, Toxemia of pregnancy
*Decreased: CHF, malabsorption, diarrhea, renal failure, cushings syndrome, aldosteronism,
diaphoresis, pulmonary emphysema, inadequate sodium intake.

Potassium: 3.5-5.0 mEq/L

*Increased: Excessive dietary intake, excessive IV intake, acute or chronic renal failure,
hypoaldosteronism, aldosterone-inhibiting diuretics, crush injury to tissues, hemolysis, transfusion of
hemolyzed blood, infection acidosis, dehydration.
*Decreased: Deficient dietary intake, deficient IV intake, burns, GI disorders (N.V.D.)Diuretics,
hyperaldosteronism, Cushing’s syndrome, renal tubular acidosis, licorice ingestion, insulin
administration, glucose administration, ascites, renal artery stenosis, cystic fibrosis, trauma, surgery.

Chloride: 100-106 mEq/L

*Increased: dehydration, renal tubular acidosis, excessive infusion of normal saline, cushing’s
syndrome, eclampsia, multiple myeloma, kidney disfunction, metabolic acidosis, hyperventilation,
anemia respiratory alkalosis, hyperparathyroidism.
*Decreased: Over hydration, CHF, Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone, vomiting, chronic
gastric suction, chronic resiratory acidosis, salt-losing nephritis, addison’s disease, burns, metabolic
alkalosis, diuretic therapy, hypokalemia, aldosteronism, respiratory acidosis.

CO2: 2-30 mEq/L

*Increased: Severe diarrhea, starvation, severe vomiting, Aldosteronism, emphysema, metabolic

alkalosis, gastric suction
*Decreased: renal failure, salicylate toxicity, diabetic ketoacidosis, metabolic acidosis, shock, starvation

Glucose: 70-110mg/dl

*Increase: DM, acute stress syndrome, cushing’s syndrome, pheochromocytoma, chronic renal failure,
glucagonoma, acute pancreatitis, diuretic therapy, corticosteroid therapy, acromegaly
*Decreased: Insulinoma, hypothryoidism, hypopituitarism, addison’s disease, extensive liver disease,
insulin overdose, starvation.

BUN: 10-20 mg/dl

*Increase: hypovolemia, shock, burns, dehydration, CHF, MI, GI bleeding, excessive protein ingestion,
alimentary tube feeding, excessive protein catabolism, starvation, sepsis
*Decrease: Liver failure, over hydration, Negative nitrogen balance (malnutrition), pregnancy,
nephrotic syndrome.
Creatinine- Male: 0.6-1.2 mg/dl Female: 0.5-1.1 mg/dl

*Increase: Glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, acute tubular necrosis, urinary tract obstruction, reduced
renal blood flow (ex-shock,dehydration, CHF, atherosclerosis), diabetic nephropathy, nephritis,
rhabdomyolysis, acromegaly, gigantism
*Decreased: Debilitation, Decreased muscle mass (MD, myasthenia gravis)

Magnesium: 1.3-2.1 mEq/L

*Increased: Renal insufficiency, uncontrolled diabetes, addison’s disease, hypothryridism, ingestion of

magnesium-containing antacids or salts.
*Decreased: Malnutrition, malabsorption, hypoparathyroidism, alcoholism, chronic renal disease,
diabetic acidosis.

Calcium: 8.5-10.5 mg/100ml

*Increased: Hyperparathyroidism, nonparathyroid producing tumor, metastatic tumor to the bone,

paget’s disease of bone, prolonged immobilization, milk-alkali syndrome, Vitamin D intoxication,
lymphoma, Granulomatuous infections (TB), Addison’s disease, acromegaly, hyperthyroidism.
*Decreased: hypoparathyroidism, renal failure, hyperphosphatemia-second to renal failure, rickets,
vitamin D deficiency, osteomalacia, malabsorption, pancreastitis, fat embolism, alkalosis

Albumin: 3.5-5.0 g/100ml

*Increase: Dehydration
*Decrease: malnutrition, pregnancy, liver disease, Protein losing nephropathies/hephropathies, third
space losses, over hydration, increased capillary permeability, inflammatory disease, familial idiopathic
dysproteinemia.

Prealbumin: 15-36 mg/dl

*Increase: nephrotic sydrome, hodgkin’s disease, chronic kidney disease, pregnancy

*Decrease: malnutrition, liver damage, burns, salicylate poisoning, inflammation.

CPK: Male: 55-170 units/L Female: 30-135 units/L

*Increase: Diseases or injury affecting the heart muscle, skeletal muscle, and brain.
*Decrease: none listed

CPK-M- 0%

*Increase: Acute MI, Cardiac aneurysm surgery, cardiac defibrillation, myocarditis, ventricular
arrythmias, cardiac ischemia.