Lab Values

Lab Values

1. Albumin

   • 35-50 g/L main PROTEIN human blood and key to regulating osmotic pressure.
     • > 50 dehydration, vomiting, burns, cirrhosis, shock
     • < 35 malnutrition, renal disease (kidney), nephrotic syndrome, burns

2. WBC

3. BUN

   • 3.6-7.1 mmol/L
     • < 3.6 fluid overload, liver damage, malnutrition
     • > 7.1 dehydration, burns, GI bleed, renal disease, shock, UTI, inc protein catabolism - fever & stress

4. Hemoglobin

5. Na+

   • 135 -145 mmol/L
     • > 145 dehydration, impaired renal function, inc sodium intake in diet, corticosteroid therapy, primary aldosteronism
     • < 135 excessive loss from GI tract, excessive perspiration, diuretic therapy, water intoxication, decreased Na+ IV intake, diabetic ketoacidosis, addison's disease

6. K+

   • 3.5 - 5 mmol/L
     • > 5 dehydration, renal failure, excessive IV intake, diabetic ketosis, metabolic acidosis
     • < 3.5 Burns, diarrhea, vomiting, diuretic therapy, GI fistula, insulin administration, starvation

7. Glucose

8. Hematocrit

9. Electrolytes

10. Osmolality primarily ordered to investigate hyponatremia

    • 285 - 295 mmol/Kg
      • > 295 hypernatremia, dehydration, chronic renal disease,
      • < 285 hyponatremia, over hydration, diuretic therapy

11. RBC count (erythrocyte)

    • M 4.7 - 6.1 F 4.2 - 5.4
      • low post hemorrhage, anemia, leukaemia
      • high dehydration, severe diarrhea, high altitudes

12. pH

    • 4.6 - 8
      • < 4.6 dehydration, acidosis, emphysema
      • > 8 chronic renal failure, alkalosis, salicylate intoxication, vegetarian diet