Lab Cheatsheet

Lab tests & possible reasons for abnormal results: (Critical values in parenthesis.) 1. CK: >200 (>351-2000 critical) = Muscle damage (nonspecific) 2. CKMB: >2.5-3.0 (>5.5) = Heart muscle damage 3. Troponin: >0.1 (>0.4) = Heart muscle damage (most specific) 4. ALK: >136 = Liver or bone damage 5. ALP: >150 = Liver or bone damage 6. AST: >37 (>200 critical) = Liver tissue damage (nonspecific) 7. ALT: >65 = Liver tissue damage (Specific for Hepatitis) 8. Biliruben: >1.0 = Liver cell damage (best indicator of liver function) 9. Albumin: >5.0 = Dehydration (best indicator of liver function) <3.5 (<1.5) = Liver disease, shock, malnutrition 10. Gamma-Gt: >51 = CHF, liver damage 11. BNP: >100 = CHF (300=mild, 600=mod, 900 severe) OK = 125-450, <75 YO = 125, >75 YO = 450 12. Glucose: >120 (>350) = Diabetes (>150 = insulin protocol) <90 (<40)= Liver failure if not on Insulen (sepsis?) 13. GFR: <60 (<29 critical) <15=Kidney failure 14. BUN: >18 (>45 critical) = Kidney problems, CHF, shock, stress MI, dehydration, GI bleed <07 = Severe liver disease, malnutrition, over-hydrated 15. Creatinin: >1.7 (3.0 critical) = Kidney probs, dehydration, CHF, shock 16. Sodium: >145 (>160 critical) = Dehydration <136 (<120) Kidney disease, over-hydrated (edema), not eating well, CHF, effects of Lasix, diarrhea, vomiting sweating. (<126=critical, confusion, lethargy, seizures) 17. Potassium: >5.1 (>6 critical) Kidney failure, massive tissue trauma, (post op), metabolic acidosis (diabetes), dehydration. <3.5 (<2.8) = Not enough in diet, gastro-intestinal disorder, vomiting. Due to Insulen, Lasix, dig, steroids? 18. Magnesium: >2.4(>2.7) = Kidney failure, dehydration, diabetic acidosis <1.3 (<1.0 critical) Malnourished (low intake), elderly, alcoholism, long-term diuretic use, diarrhea. 19. Chloride: >107 = Dehydration, met acidosis, hypoventilation (alkalosis) <98) = When Sodium low 20. Calcium: >10.1 (>13) = Bone breaks, prolonged bed rest, etc. <8.5 (<6) = Bone disease, malnutrition, alcoholism 21. PTT/ PT: >33/ >12.7(>60/>40) = transfusion, therapeutic, DIC. PTT is one of the best measures of liver function. <24/<10 = Impaired clotting ability 22. INR: >1.2 (>6) = Acute bleed, DIC or therapeutic. 23. Fibrinogen: >450 = Risk for heart disease (checked often) <160 (<70) = Acute bleed, liver disease, malnutrition, DIC 24. D-Dimer: >500 = DVT, PE, DIC, acute bleed, surgery, trauma 25. Platelets: <80,000 = bleeding problems, Heparin, DIC alcoholic, leukemia (Vitamin K increases clotting) 26. Phosphorus: >4.1 (>8) = Liver disease, Kidney failure, bone mets. <3.0 (<1.1) = Diabetic Keto-acidosis 27. Uric Acid: >7.0 = Acidosis, alcoholism, diabetes, Kidney failure 28. Folic Acid: <2.0 = Malnutrition 29. Lactic Acid: >19.8 = Hypoxia, O2 deprivation, shock, CHF, tissue death Increases when organs failing/dying (sepsis?) 30. LDH: >136 (>350 critical) = Nonspecific Tissue damage or death 31. Osmology >300 = Dehydration 32. Hematocrit: >47 = Dehydration 33. Keytones: Positive test = Diabetes, starvation, vomiting, increased metabolism (fever, severe illness). 34. Neutrophils: >48-73% = increased levels of bacterial infection (acute) a. Segs >60 if new infection b. Bands >2% = worsening infection 35. Eisinophils: >2% with allergic reaction (associated with asthma). 36. Lymphocytes: >18-48% = may indicate viral infection (mono, measles, pox) 37. Basophils: >2% = allergic reaction