Name of Test Purpose Normal Range High Results Mean Low Results Mean

BUN Indirect measure

Low blood volume/ Liver failure, cirrhosis,
(Blood Urea kidney function 10 20 dehydration, shock, HF, overhydration, nephrotic
Nitrogen) kidney disease, drug toxicity syndrome
Male: 0.6
Creatinine Diagnose impaired 1.2 Kidney disease, heart failure, Debilitation, decreased
(Cr) kidney function Female: muscle disease muscle mass
0.51.1
Specific Distal renal tubular
Measure urine
Dehydration, pituitary tumor, disease, polycystic kidney
Gravity particle 1.010 1.030 hypotension, HF, liver failure disease, overhydration,
concentration
(Urinalysis) diabetes insipidus
Amylase Detects & monitors
(AMS) pancreatitis 60 120 Pancreatitis

Too much insulin

Diabetes, stress response,
Glucose production/overdose,
(serum)
Blood sugar level 70 105 Cushing's, hyperthyroidism,
hypothyroidism, Addison's,
acute/chronic pancreatitis
liver disease
Cholesterol
(serum)
Risk for CAD < 200 Family high cholesterol/lipid Malabsorption,malnutrition

CBC
Male: 4.5
Illness, high altitude,
RBC Evaluate anemia
5.3 congenital heart disease,
Anemia, hemorrhage, liver
Female: cirrhosis
COPD
4.15.1
Drug toxicity, bone
Evaluates infection 5,000 Infection, leukemic cancer, marrow failure,
WBC or
steroid usage, severe sepsis overwhelming infections,
immunosuppression 10,000
lupus
Male: 13
Hemoglobin Rapid indirect
measurement of
18 Congenital heart disease, Anemia, cirrhosis,
(Hgb) RBC count Female: 12 dehydration, COPD hemorrhage

16
Male: 42
Indirect
Hematocrit measurement of red 52% Congenital heart disease, Anemia, cirrhosis,
(Hct) blood cell number
Female36 dehydration, COPD hemorrhage
and volume
46%
150,000 Malignant disorders, Hemorrhage, infection,
Platelet Blood ability to clot
rheumatoid arthritis, anemia cancer therapy
400,000
Coagulation Studies
PT Tests extrinsic 11 15 Anticoagulation therapy,
Digitalis therapy, diuretic
(Prothrombin clotting
DIC, hepatic disease,
seconds action, vitamin K therapy
time) malabsorption
 PTT Tests coagulation 60 70 Deficiency factors,
(Partial mechanisms
Extensive cancer, DIC
seconds anticoagulation therapy
thromboplastin time)

APTT More sensitive than 30 45

(Activated PTT) PTT seconds
INR > 1.5 2.0 Blood too thin, warfarin
(International Test for coagulation Blood too thick
Normalized Ratio) *Higher for prosthetic valve (Coumadin) therapy
DIC, recent surgery, active or
Assess for recent bleeding, TE,
breakdown of a
D-Dimer venous clot (DVT, < 0.5 pregnancy, liver disease,
PE) inflammation, malignancy,
hypercoagulable states

Electrolytes
Hyperparathyroidism,
Parathyroid function Hypoparathyroidism, renal
Calcium (Ca) & Ca2+ metabolism 8.6 10.2 metastatic tumor to bone,
failure, vitamin D defic.
Paget's disease
Overhydration, HF, pyloric
Acid-base status and Dehydration,
Chloride (Cl) hydration status 97 107 hyperventilation, DM
obstruction, respiratory
acidosis
Deficient intake, diuretics
(thiazide), Cushing's,
Fluid/Electrolyte Excessive intake, hyperadlosteronism,
Potassium (K) status, heart 3.5 5.0 kidney disease/failure, steroid therapy,
function Addison's, DKA malignant HTN, cirrhosis
with ascites, chronic
diarrhea/vomiting
Decreased dietary intake,
Increased intake, Addison's, excessive water
Fluid/Electrolyte
Sodium (Na) status 135 145 Cushing's, excessive intake, vomiting/diarrhea,
sweating, diabetes insipidus HF, burns, thoracentesis,
ascites, SIADH
Profound GI losses
Ca/Phosphorus Renal failure, elderly, antacid (suction, diarrhea), small
Magnesium (Mg) balance 1.3 2.3 overuse bowel changes, alcoholics,
loop diuretics, antibiotics

Liver Function Tests (LFTs)

Hepatitis, hepatic necrosis,
Identify diseases of
ALT the liver 4 36 cirrhosis, hepatic tumor,
obstructive jaundice
Evaluate suspected Acute renal disease,
AST coronary artery Heart diseases, liver
beriberi, pregnancy,
(Aspartate occlusive disease or 0 35 diseases, skeletal muscle
diabetic ketoacidosis,
hepatocellular diseases, anemia, pancreatitis
transaminase) disease chronic renal dialysis

ALP Primary cirrhosis, liver Scurvy, pernicious anemia,

Detect & monitor
tumor, Pagets disease, malnutrition,
(Alkaline diseases of the liver 30 120 Rheumatoid arthritis, hypophosphatemia, milk-
phosphatase) or bone
myocardial infarction alkali syndrome
 Diagnose, evaluate,
monitor cancer, Malnutrition, liver disease,
Albumin immune dx, liver 3.5 5 Dehydration
pregnancy, overhydration
dx, nutrition, edema

Gallstones, extrahepatic duct

Evaluates liver obstruction, liver metastasis,
function and
Bilirubin patients with 0.3 1.0 cholestasis from drugs,
hemolytic anemias Dubin-Johnson syndrome,
anemias, cirrhosis

Ammonia Supports diagnosis Liver disease, Reye's Essential or malignant

(serum) of liver disease 80 110 Syndrome hypertension