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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 mg/d
Low density lipoprotein (LDL) < 100 mg/d
Triglycerides < 120 mg/d
Total cholesterol < 170 mg/d
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/

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