Lab Values

Question 1

Sodium (Na+)

Answer 1

135 - 145 mEq/L
Primary extracellular ion

Question 2

Hypernatremia

Answer 2

Causes:
Dehydration, over-diuretics, diabetes insipidus
Treatment:
Hydration, correction of underlying cause

Question 3

Potassium (K+)

Answer 3

3.5 - 5.0 mmol/L

Question 4

Hypokalemia

Answer 4

Causes: diuretic use, N/V/D, renal insufficiency, excessive sweating
Treatment: oral potassium (preferred) or IV drip

Question 5

Hyperkalemia

Answer 5

Causes: medications, renal failure, rhabdomyolysis
Treatment: Shift potassium into cell using insulin, bicarbonate, and albuterol

Dialysis or diuretics

Question 6

Chloride

Answer 6

96-106 mmol/L

Question 7

HCO3/CO2

Answer 7

22-28 mEq/L

Question 8

Anion Gap

Answer 8

8 - 12 mEq/L

Question 9

Indicator of acidosis

Answer 9

Glycols
-Ethylene glycol, propylene glycol
Oxoproline
- toxic metabolite of acetaminophen
L-Lactate
-Lactic acid
D-Lactate
-Exogenous lactic acid caused my gut bacteria
Methanol
-Inclusive of all alcohols
Aspirin
-Salicylates
Renal Failure
-Uremic acidosis
Ketones
-Diabetic, starvation, alcoholic

Question 10

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

Answer 10

8 - 23 mg/dL
Causes of elevated levels: dehydration, rhabdo, AKI, renal failure, upper GI bleed
Treatment: hydration, dialysis, correct underlying issue

Question 11

Creatinine

Answer 11

0.5-1.2 mg/dL
Elevated levels: AKI, CKD, rhabdo

Question 12

Calcium

Answer 12

8.5-10 mg/dL

Question 13

Causes of hypercalcemia

Answer 13

Excessive antacid use
Endocrine disorder
Cancer

Question 14

Causes of hypocalcemia

Answer 14

Increased calcium loss, pancreatitis, endocrine disorders, sepsis, rapid RBC admin

Question 15

Magnesium

Answer 15

1.3-2.1 mg/dL

Question 16

Hemoglobin

Answer 16

Female: 12-15 g/dL
Male: 14-17 g/dL

Question 17

Hematocrit

Answer 17

Female: 36-45%
Male: 42-51%

Question 18

1 PRBC

Answer 18

^1 point in hemoglobin and 3% hematocrit

Question 19

White blood cell count

Answer 19

5,000-10,000

Question 20

Leukocytosis

Answer 20

High white blood count

Causes: stress, infection, trauma, extreme exercise, cancer

Question 21

Leukocytopenia

Answer 21

Low level white blood cells

Causes: compromised immune system, cancer, sepsis

Question 22

Platelets

Answer 22

150,000-400,000

Question 23

Thrombocythemia

Answer 23

High platelet count

PE, acute bleeding, metastatic cancer

Question 24

Thrombocytopenia

Answer 24

Low number of platelets

DIC, cancer/leukemia, sickle cell, lupus, liver failure

Question 25

International Normalized Ratio

Answer 25

0.8-1.2
INR >5 is critical, severe risk of bleeding

Question 26

Prothrombin Time

Answer 26

Measures how long to clot
10-13 sec

Question 27

Reversing anticoagulants

Answer 27

Warfarin/Coumadin: Vitamin K
Heparin/Levonox: Protamine sulfate
Eliquis/Xarelto: Kcentra or Andexanet

Question 28

AST/ALT

Answer 28

AST: 8-48 ALT: 7-55
High levels = poor liver function

Question 29

Ammonia

Answer 29

15-45 u/dL

Question 30

Bilirubin

Answer 30

<1.2 mg/dL
Byproduct of RBC breakdown

Question 31

Alkaline Phosphate

Answer 31

30-120

Question 32

Amylase and Lipase

Answer 32

Amylase: 30-100 U/L
Lipase: 30-180

Pancreatitis

Question 33

Lactate

Answer 33

<2 mmol/L

Question 34

Troponin

Answer 34

Troponin I: <0.4 ng/mL
Troponin T <0.1 ng/mL

Question 35

Creatine Kinase

Answer 35

40-150 U/L