Appendix A – Normal Reference Ranges
The following normal reference ranges are used for laboratory tests discussed throughout the book.
Acid Base
Acid Base Normal Reference Ranges
| Laboratory Test |
Normal Reference Range |
| pH |
7.35 – 7.45 |
| PaCO2 |
35 – 45 mmHg |
| HCO3– |
18 – 22 mmol/L |
| PaO2 |
80 – 100 mmHg |
Cardiac
Cardiac Normal Reference Ranges
| Laboratory Test |
Normal Reference Range |
| CK |
25 – 200 U/L |
| CKMB |
0 – 4 ng/mL |
| Troponin |
0 – 0.4 ng/mL |
Cholesterol Panel
Cholesterol Panel Normal Reference Ranges
| Laboratory Test |
Normal Reference Range |
| Total Cholesterol |
3 – 5.5 mmol/L or < 200 mg/dL |
| HDL |
40 – 80 mg/dL |
| LDL |
85 – 125 mg/dL |
| Triglycerides |
50 – 150 mg/dL |
Coagulation Profile
Coagulation Profile Normal Reference Ranges
| Laboratory Test |
Normal Reference Range |
| Prothrombin Time |
11 – 14 sec |
| International Normalized Ratio (INR) |
0.9 – 1.2 |
| aPTT (Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time) |
20 – 40 sec |
Complete Blood Count and Differential
Complete Blood Count and Differential Normal Reference Ranges
| Laboratory Test |
Normal Reference Range |
| RBC (Red Blood Cell Count) |
Male: 4.50 – 5.90 million/mm3
Female: 4.00 – 5.20 million/mm3 |
| RDW (Red Blood Cell Distribution Width) |
11.5% – 14.5% |
| Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) |
80 – 100 fL |
| Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) |
0.4 – 0.5 fmol/cell |
| Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) |
30 – 35 g/dL |
| Hemoglobin |
Male: 13 – 17 g/dL
Female: 12 – 15 g/dL |
| Hematocrit |
Male: 40% – 52%
Female: 36% – 47% |
| White Blood Cells (WBC) |
4000 – 10,000 mm3 |
| Neutrophils |
46 – 78% |
| Lymphocytes |
18 – 52% |
| Monocytes |
3 – 10% |
| Eosinophils |
0 – 6% |
| Basophils |
0 – 3% |
| Platelet Count |
150,000 – 400,000 mm3 |
HbA1C (Hemoglobin A1C)
Hemoglobin A1C Normal Reference Range
| Laboratory Test |
Normal Reference Range |
| A1C |
3.9 – 6.2% |
Iron
Iron Studies Normal Reference Ranges
| Laboratory Test |
Normal Reference Range |
| Total Serum Iron |
Male: 65 – 180 µg/dL
Female: 30 – 170 µg/dL |
| Ferritin |
Male: 12 – 300 ng/mL
Female: 12 – 150 ng/mL |
| Transferrin |
200 – 350 mg/dL |
| Total Iron-Binding Capacity |
45 – 85 µmol/L |
Metabolic Panel
Metabolic Panel Normal Reference Ranges
| Laboratory Test |
Normal Reference Range |
| Sodium |
135 – 145 mmol/L |
| Potassium |
3.5 – 5 mmol/L |
| Chloride |
95 – 105 mmol/L |
| Calcium |
8.5 – 10.2 mg/dL |
| Magnesium |
1.5 – 2 mEq/L |
| Phosphate |
0.8 – 1.5 mmol/L |
| Glucose |
65 – 110 mg/dL |
| Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) |
8 – 21 mg/dL |
| Creatinine |
0.8 – 1.3 mg/dL |
Liver Function Tests
Liver Function Test Normal Reference Ranges
| Laboratory Test |
Normal Reference Range |
| Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) |
50 – 100 U/L |
| Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) |
5 – 30 U/L |
| Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) |
5 – 30 U/L |
| Albumin |
35 – 50 g/L |
| Total Protein |
60 – 80 g/L |
| Total Bilirubin |
2 – 20 µmol/L |
| Amylase |
30 – 125 U/L |
Thyroid Hormones
Thyroid Hormone Normal Reference Ranges
| Laboratory Test |
Normal Reference Range |
| Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) |
0.5 – 5 mIU/L |
| Total Thyroxine (T4) |
4.9 – 11.7 mg/dL |
| Total Triiodothyronine (T3) |
0.7 – 1.5 ng/dL |
Urinalysis
Urinalysis Normal Reference Findings
| Test or Characteristic |
Normal Reference Finding |
| Appearance |
Clear |
| Color |
Amber Yellow |
| Odor |
Aromatic |
| pH |
5-8 |
| Protein |
Negative |
| Specific Gravity |
1.002 – 1.030 |
| Leukocyte Esterase |
Negative |
| Nitrites |
Negative |
| Ketones |
Negative |
| Bilirubin |
Negative |
| Crystals |
Negative |
| Casts |
0 – 4 hyaline casts/lpf |
| Glucose |
Negative |
| WBCs |
0 – 5/hpf |
| RBCs |
0 – 5/hpf |
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous Laboratory Test Normal Reference Ranges
| Laboratory Test |
Normal Reference Range |
| Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) |
< 100 pg/mL |
| C-Reactive Protein (CRP) |
< 5 mg/L |
| d-Dimer |
< 500 ng/mL |
| Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) |
50-150 U/L |
