Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo
Clinical Nursing Skills

A | Adult Lab Values

Clinical Nursing SkillsA | Adult Lab Values

Note: These values could change slightly based on parameters set by specific healthcare facilities

Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Red blood cell (RBC) 4.5 – 5.0 million cells/mm3 (female)
4.7 – 6.2 million cells/mm3 (male)
White blood cell (WBC) 4,500 – 11,000 cells/mm3
Hemoglobin 12 – 16 g/dL (female)
13 – 17 g/dL (male)
Hematocrit 35 – 47% (female)
42 – 53% (male)
Platelets 150,000 – 400,000/mm3
Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 6 – 24 mg/dL
Serum creatinine 0.6 – 1.2 mg/dL
Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) > 60 mL/min/1.73m2
Carbon dioxide 23 – 29 mmol/L
Glucose 65 – 110 mg/dL
Chloride 95 – 105 mEq/L
Potassium 3.5 – 5.2 mEq/L
Sodium 135 – 145 mEq/L
Calcium 8.3 – 10.2 md/dL
Phosphorus 3.0 – 4.5 mg/dL
Magnesium 1.3 – 2.1 mEq/L
Serum osmolality 285 – 295 mOsm/kg H2O
Albumin 3.5 – 5.5 g/dL
Total protein 5.5 – 8.3 g/dL
Bilirubin 0.1 – 1.2 mg/dL
Liver function tests (LFTs)

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)


Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)


9 – 25 units/L (female)
10 – 40 units/L (male)

7 – 20 units/L (female)
10 – 55 units/L (male)
Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)
pH 7.35 – 7.45
Partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) 80 – 100%
Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) 35 – 45 mmHg
Bicarbonate (HCO3) 22 – 26 mEq/L
Coagulation Labs
International normalized ratio (INR) 0.8 – 1.2
2 – 3 is normal for patients on warfarin
Prothrombin time (PT) 11 – 13 seconds
1.5-2x longer if on anticoagulants
Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) 60 – 70 seconds
1.5 – 2x longer if on anticoagulants
Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) 25 – 35 seconds
1.5 – 2x longer if on anticoagulants
Lipid Panel
High density lipoprotein (HDL) > 40 mmol/L
Low density lipoprotein (LDL) < 100 mmol/L
Triglycerides < 120 mmol/L
Total cholesterol < 170 mmol/L
Hemoglobin A1C
Normal < 5.7%
Prediabetes 5.7 – 6.4%
Diabetes > 6.5%
Table A1 Adult Lab Values

References

Gaines, K. (2023). NCLEX lab values nursing students need to know. https://nurse.org/education/lab-values-nclex/

Martin, P. (2024). Complete normal lab values reference guide & cheat sheet. https://nurseslabs.com/normal-lab-values-nclex-nursing/

Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/clinical-nursing-skills/pages/1-introduction
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/clinical-nursing-skills/pages/1-introduction
Citation information

© Jun 25, 2024 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.