57
Common Laboratory Tests
The following table is an alphabetical listing of some common laboratory tests and their reference ranges for adults as
measured in plasma or serum (unless otherwise indicated). Reference values differ among laboratories, so readers
should refer to the published reference ranges used in each institution. For some tests, both SI units and conventional
units are reported.
Laboratory
Acid phosphatase
Male
Female
Activated partial thromboplastin time
(aPTT)
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT, SGPT)
Albumin
Albumin:creatinine ratio (urine)
Normal
Microalbuminuria
Proteinuria
or
Normal
Male
Female
Microalbuminuria
Male
Female
Proteinuria
Male
Female
Aldosterone
Supine
Upright
Alkaline phosphatase
10–15 years
16–20 years
Greater than 20 years
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
Alpha1-antitrypsin
Amikacin, therapeutic
Amitriptyline
Ammonia (plasma)
Amylase
Androstenedione
Angiotensin-converting enzyme
Anion gap
Anti–double-stranded DNA (anti-ds
DNA)
Anti-HAV
Anti-HBc
Anti-HBs
Anti-HCV
Conventional Units
Conversion
Factor
SI Units
2–12 units/L
0.3–9.2 units/L
25–40 s
16.7
16.7
33–200 nkat/L
5–154 nkat/L
15–80 pg/mL or ng/L
7–53 IU/L
3.5–5.0 g/dL
0.2202
0.01667
10
3.3–17.6 pmol/L
0.12–0.88 μkat/L
35–50 g/L
Less than 16 ng/dL
Less than 31 ng/dL
27.7
27.7
Less than 444 pmol/L
Less than 860 pmol/L
130–550 IU/L
70–260 IU/L
38–126 IU/L
Less than 15 ng/mL
80–200 mg/dL
15–30 mg/L peak
Less than or equal to 8 mg/L
trough
80–200 ng/mL or mcg/L
15.33–56.20 mcg NH3/dL
25–115 IU/L
50–250 ng/dL
15–70 units/L
7–16 mEq/L
Negative
0.01667
0.01667
0.01667
1
0.01
1.71
2.17–9.17 μkat/L
1.17–4.33 μkat/L
0.13–2.10 μkat/L
Less than 15 mcg/L
0.8–2.0 g/L
25.6–51.3 μmol/L peak
Less than or equal to 13.7
μmol/L trough
272–680 nmol/L
9–33 μmol NH3/L
0.42–1.92 kat/L
1.7–8.7 nmol/L
250–1,167 nkat/L
7–16 mmol/L
Less than 30 mg/g creatinine
30–300 mg/g creatinine
Greater than 300 mg/g
creatinine
or
Less than 2.0 mg/mmol
creatinine
Less than 2.8 mg/mmol
creatinine
2.0–20 mg/mmol creatinine
2.8–28 mg/mmol creatinine
Greater than 20 mg/mmol
creatinine
Greater than 28 mg/mmol
creatinine
Negative
Negative
Negative
Negative
3.4
0.5872
0.01667
0.0349
16.67
1
58
Laboratory
Anti–Sm antibody
Antinuclear antibody (ANA)
Apolipoprotein A-1
Male
Female
Apolipoprotein B
Male
Female
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST,
SGOT)
Beta2-microglobulin
Bicarbonate
Bilirubin
Total
Direct
Indirect
Bleeding time
Blood gases (arterial)
pH
PaO2
PaCO2
HCO3
O2 saturation
Blood urea nitrogen
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)
BUN-to-creatinine ratio
C-peptide
C-reactive protein
CA-125
CA 15-3
CA 19-9
CA 27-29
Calcium
Total
Ionized
Carbamazepine, therapeutic
Carboxyhemoglobin (nonsmoker)
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
Nonsmoker
Smoker
Cardiac troponin I (see troponin I)
CD4 lymphocyte count
CD8 lymphocyte count
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Pressure
Glucose
Protein
WBC
Ceruloplasmin
Chloride
Cholesterol
Desirable
Borderline high
High
Conventional Units
Conversion
Factor
SI Units
95–175 mg/dL
100–200 mg/dL
0.01
0.01
0.95–1.75 g/L
1.0–2.0 g/L
50–110 mg/dL
50–105 mg/dL
11–47 IU/L
0.01
0.01
0.01667
0.5–1.10 g/L
0.5–1.05 g/L
0.18–0.78 μkat/L
Less than 0.2 mg/dL
22–26 mEq/L
10
1
2 mg/L
22–26 mmol/L
0.3–1.1 mg/dL
0–0.3 mg/dL
0.1–1.0 mg/dL
3–7 min
17.1
17.1
17.1
5.13–18.80 μmol/L
0–5.1 μmol/L
1.71–17.1 μmol/L
7.35–7.45
80–105 mm Hg
35–45 mm Hg
22–26 mEq/L
Greater than or equal to 95%
8–25 mg/dL
0–99 pg/mL
10:1 to 20:1
0.51–2.70 ng/mL
1
0.133
0.133
1
0.01
0.357
1
7.35–7.45
10.6–14.0 kPa
4.7–6.0 kPa
22–26 mmol/L
0.95
2.9–8.9 mmol/L
0–99 ng/L
Less than 0.8 mg/dL
Less than 35 units/mL
Less than 30 units/mL
Less than 37 units/mL
Less than 38 units/mL
330
0.33
10
1
1
1
1
170–900 pmol/L or
0.172–0.900 nmol/L
Less than 8 mg/L
Less than 35 kilounits/L
Less than 30 kilounits/L
Less than 37 kilounits/L
Less than 38 kilounits/L
8.6–10.3 mg/dL
4.3–5.16 mEq/L
4.5–5.1 mg/dL
2.26–2.56 mEq/L
4–12 mg/L
Less than 2%
0.25
0.50
0.25
0.50
4.23
0.01
2.15–2.58 mmol/L
2.15–2.58 mmol/L
1.13–1.28 mmol/L
1.13–1.28 mmol/L
17–51 μmol/L
Less than 0.02
Less than 2.5 ng/mL
Less than 5 ng/mL
Variable ng/mL
31–61% of total lymphocytes
18–39% of total lymphocytes
1
1
Less than 2.5 mcg/L
Less than 5 mcg/L
Variable mcg/L
0.0555
0.01
2.2–3.9 mmol/L
0.15–0.45 g/L
97–110 mEq/L
10
0.063
1
180–450 mg/L
1.1–2.8 μmol/L
97–110 mmol/L
Less than 200 mg/dL
200–239 mg/dL
Greater than or equal to 240
0.0259
0.0259
0.0259
Less than 5.18 mmol/L
5.18–6.19 mmol/L
Greater than or equal to 6.2
Negative
Negative
75–175 mm H2O
40–70 mg/dL
15–45 mg/dL
Less than 10/mm3
18–45 mg/dL
59
Laboratory
Chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG)
Clozapine
CO2 content
Complement component 3 (C3)
Complement component 4 (C4)
Copper
Cortisol (fasting, morning)
Cortisol (free, urinary)
Creatine kinase
Male
Female
MB fraction
Creatinine clearance (CLcr) (urine)
Creatinine
Male 4–20 years
Female 4–20 years
Male (adults)
Female (adults)
Cyclosporine
Renal transplant
Cardiac, liver, or pancreatic transplant
Cryptococcal antigen
d-dimers
Desipramine
Dexamethasone suppression test (DST)
(overnight)
DHEAS
Male
Female
Premenopausal
Postmenopausal
Digoxin, therapeutic
Erythrocyte count (blood) See under
red blood cell count
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
Westergren
Male
Female
Wintrobe
Male
Female
Erythropoietin
Estradiol
Male
Female
Ethanol, legal intoxication
Ethosuccimide, therapeutic
Factor VIII or factor IX
Severe hemophilia
Moderate hemophilia
Mild hemophilia
Usual adult levels
Ferritin
Male
Conventional Units
Conversion
Factor
SI Units
mg/dL
Less than 5 milliunits/mL
Minimum trough 300–350
ng/mL or mcg/L
22–30 mEq/L
70–160 mg/dL
20–40 mg/dL
70–150 mcg/dL
5–25 mcg/dL
10–100 mcg/day
1
3.06
mmol/L
Less than 5 units/L
918–1,071 nmol/L
1
0.01
0.01
0.157
27.6
2.76
22–30 mmol/L
0.7–1.6 g/L
0.2–0.4 g/L
11–24 μmol/L
138–690 nmol/L
28–276 nmol/day
30–200 IU/L
20–170 IU/L
0–7 IU/L
85–135 mL/min/1.73 m2
0.01667
0.01667
0.01667
0.00963
0.50–3.33 μkat/L
0.33–2.83 μkat/L
0.0–0.12 μkat/L
0.82–1.3 mL/s/m2
0.2–1.0 mg/dL
0.2–1.0 mg/dL
0.7–1.3 mg/dL
0.6–1.1 mg/dL
88.4
88.4
88.4
88.4
18–88 μmol/L
18–88 μmol/L
62–115 μmol/L
53–97 μmol/L
100–300 ng/mL or mcg/L
200–350 ng/mL or mcg/L
Negative
Less than 250 ng/mL
75–300 ng/mL or mcg/L
8:00 AM cortisol less than 5
mcg/dL
0.832
0.832
83–250 nmol/L
166–291 nmol/L
1
3.75
0.0276
Less than 250 mcg/L
281–1,125 mmol/L
Less than 0.14 μmol/L
170–670 mcg/dL
0.0271
4.6–18.2 μmol/L
50–540 mcg/dL
30–260 mcg/dL
0.5–1.0 ng/mL or mcg/L
0.0271
0.0271
1.28
1.4–14.7 μmol/L
0.8–7.1 μmol/L
0.6–1.3 nmol/L
1
2–25 IU/L
10–36 pg/mL
34–170 pg/mL
Greater than or equal to 50–
100 mg/dL
Greater than or equal to 0.05–
0.1%
40–100 mg/L or mcg/mL
3.67
3.67
0.217
37–132 pmol/L
125–624 pmol/L
10.9–21.7 mmol/L
7.08
283–708 μmol/L
Less than 1 IU/dL
1–5 IU/dL
Greater than 5 IU/dL
60–140 IU/dL
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
Less than 0.01 units/mL
0.01–0.05 units/mL
Greater than 0.05 units/mL
0.60–1.40 units/mL
20–250 ng/mL
1
20–250 mcg/L
0–20 mm/h
0–30 mm/h
0–9 mm/h
0–15 mm/h
2–25 mIU/mL
217
60
Laboratory
Female
Fibrin degradation products (FDP)
Fibrinogen
Folate (plasma)
Folic acid (RBC)
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
Male
Female
Follicular phase
Midcycle
Luteal phase
Postmenopausal
Free thyroxine index (FT4I)
Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT)
Gastrin (fasting)
Gentamicin, therapeutic
Globulin
Glucose (fasting, plasma)
Glucose, 2-hour postprandial blood
(PPBG)
Granulocyte count
Growth hormone (fasting)
Male
Female
Haptoglobin
HBeAg
HbsAg
HBV DNA
Hematocrit
Male
Female
Hemoglobin (blood)
Male
Female
Hemoglobin A1C
Heparin
Via protamine titration method
Via anti-factor Xa assay
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
cholesterol
Homocysteine
Ibuprofen
Therapeutic
Toxic
Imipramine, therapeutic
Immunoglobulin A (IgA)
Immunoglobulin G (IgG)
Immunoglobulin M (IgM)
Insulin (fasting)
International normalized ratio (INR),
therapeutic
Iron
Conventional Units
Conversion
Factor
1
10–150 mcg/L
0.01
2.266
2.266
2.0–4.0 g/L
7.0–28.1 nmol/L
283–1,360 nmol/L
1–7 mIU/mL
1
1–7 IU/L
1–9 mIU/mL
6–26 mIU/mL
1–9 mIU/mL
30–118 mIU/mL
6.5–12.5
0–30 IU/L
0–130 pg/mL
4–10 mg/L peak
Less than or equal to 2 mg/L
trough
2.3–3.5 g/dL
65–109 mg/dL
Less than 140 mg/dL
1
1
1
1
1–9 IU/L
6–26 IU/L
1–9 IU/L
30–118 IU/L
0.01667
1
2.09
10
0.0555
0.0555
0–0.5 μkat/L
0–130 ng/L
8.4–21.0 μmol/L peak
Less than or equal to 4.2
μmol/L trough
23–35 g/L
3.6–6.0 mmol/L
Less than 7.8 mmol/L
1.8–6.6 × 103/μL
106
1.8–6.6 × 109/L
Less than 5 ng/mL
Less than 10 ng/mL
60–270 mg/dL
Negative
Negative
Negative
1
1
0.01
Less than 5 mcg/L
Less than 10 mcg/L
0.6–2.7 g/L
40.7–50.3%
36.1–44.3%
0.01
0.01
0.407–0.503
0.361–0.443
13.8–17.2 g/dL
138–172 g/L
8.56–10.67 mmol/L
4.0–6.0%
10
Alternate SI:
0.62
10
Alternate SI:
0.62
0.01
0.2–0.4 mcg/mL
0.3–0.7 mcg/mL
Greater than 35 mg/dL
0.0259
Greater than 0.91 mmol/L
4.85
4.85
3.57
0.01
0.01
0.01
7.175
49–243 μmol/L
485–3,395 μmol/L or more
357–1071 nmol/L
0.85–3.85 g/L
5.65–17.65 g/L
0.53–3.75 g/L
14.35–143.5 pmol/L
10–150 ng/mL
2–10 mg/L
200–400 mg/dL
3.1–12.4 ng/mL
125–600 ng/mL
12.1–15.1 g/dL
SI Units
121–151 g/L
7.5–9.36 mmol/L
0.04–0.06
3.3–10.4 μmol/L
10–50 mcg/mL
100–700 mcg/mL or more
100–300 ng/mL or mcg/L
85–385 mg/dL
565–1,765 mg/dL
53–375 mg/dL
2–20 microunits/mL or
milliunits/L
2.0–3.0 (2.5–3.5 for some
indications)
61
Laboratory
Male
Female
Iron binding capacity (total)
Iron saturation
Lactate (plasma)
Lactate dehydrogenase
Lead
Leukocyte count
Lidocaine, therapeutic
Lipase
Lithium, therapeutic
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
cholesterol
Desirable
Borderline high risk
High risk
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Male
Female
Follicular phase
Midcycle
Luteal phase
Postmenopausal
Lymphocyte count
Magnesium
Mean corpuscular volume
Mononuclear cell count
Nortriptyline, therapeutic
NT-ProBNP (see Pro-BNP)
Osmolality (serum)
Osmolality (urine)
Parathyroid hormone (PTH), intact
Parathyroid hormone (PTH), Nterminal
Parathyroid hormone (PTH), C-terminal
Phenobarbital, therapeutic
Phenytoin, therapeutic
Phosphate
Platelet count
Potassium (plasma)
Prealbumin (adult)
Primidone, therapeutic
ProBNP
Procainamide, therapeutic
Progesterone
Male
Female
Follicular phase
Luteal phase
Prolactin
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
Protein, total
Prothrombin time (PT)
Quinidine, therapeutic
Radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU)
Conventional Units
45–160 mcg/dL
30–160 mcg/dL
220–420 mcg/dL
15–50%
0.7–2.1 mEq/L
6.3–18.9 mg/dL
100–250 IU/L
Less than 25 mcg/dL
3.8–9.8 × 103/μL
1.5–6.0 mcg/mL or mg/L
Less than 100 IU/L
0.5–1.25 mEq/L
Conversion
Factor
0.179
0.179
0.179
0.01
1
0.111
0.01667
0.0483
106
4.27
0.01667
1
SI Units
8.1–31.3 μmol/L
5.4–31.3 μmol/L
39.4–75.2 μmol/L
0.15–0.50
0.7–2.1 mmol/L
1.67–4.17 μkat/L
Less than 1.21 μmol/L
3.8–9.8 μ109/L
6.4–25.6 μmol/L
1.7 μkat/L
0.5–1.25 mmol/L
Less than 130 mg/dL
130–159 mg/dL
Greater than or equal to 160
mg/dL
0.0259
0.0259
0.0259
Less than 3.36 mmol/L
3.36–4.11 mmol/L
Greater than or equal to
4.13 mmol/L
1–8 milliunits/mL
1
1–8 units/L
1–12 milliunits/mL
16–104 milliunits/mL
1–12 milliunits/mL
16–66 milliunits/mL
1.2–3.3 × 103/μL
1.3–2.2 mEq/L
1.58–2.68 mg/dL
80.0–97.6 μm3
0.2–0.7 × 103/μL
50–150 ng/mL or mcg/L
1
1
1
1
106
0.5
0.411
1
106
3.8
1–12 units/L
16–104 units/L
1–12 units/L
16–66 units/L
1.2–3.3 × 109/L
0.65–1.10 mmol/L
0.65–1.10 mmol/L
80.0–97.6 fL
0.2–0.7 × 109/L
190–570 nmol/L
275–300 mOsm/kg
250–900 mOsm/kg
10–60 pg/mL or ng/L
8–24 pg/mL or ng/L
1
1
0.107
275–300 mmol/kg
250–900 mmol/kg
1.1–6.4 pmol/L
50–330 pg/mL or ng/L
15–40 mcg/mL or mg/L
10–20 mcg/mL or mg/L
2.5–4.5 mg/dL
140–440 × 103/μL
3.3–4.9 mEq/L
19.5–35.8 mg/dL
5–12 mcg/mL or mg/L
Less than 125 pg/mL or ng/L
4–10 mcg/mL or mg/L
4.31
3.96
0.323
106
1
10
4.58
0.118
4.23
65–172 μmol/L
40–79 μmol/L
0.81–1.45 mmol/L
140–440 × 109/L
3.3–4.9 μmol/L
195–358 mg/L
23–55 μmol/L
Less than 14.75 pmol/L
17–42 μmol/L
13–97 ng/dL
0.0318
0.4–3.1 nmol/L
1
1
10
0.5–2.2 nmol/L
6.4–79.5 nmol/L
Less than 20 mcg/L
Less than 4 mcg/L
60–80 g/L
3.08
6.2–15.4 μmol/L
15–70 ng/dL
200–2,500 ng/dL
Less than 20 ng/mL
Less than 4 ng/mL
6.0–8.0 g/dL
10–12 sec
2–5 mcg/mL or mg/L
Less than 6% in 2 hours
62
Laboratory
Red blood cell (RBC) count (blood)
Male
Female
Pregnant
Trimester 1
Trimester 2
Trimester 3
Postpartum
Red blood cell distribution width
(RDW)
Reticulocyte count
Male
Female
Retinol-binding protein (RBP)
Rheumatoid factor (RF) titer
Salicylate, therapeutic
Sodium
Tacrolimus
Renal transplant
Liver transplant
Pancreatic transplant
Bone marrow transplant
Testosterone (total)
Men
Women
Testosterone (free)
Men
Women
Theophylline
Therapeutic
Toxic
Thrombin time
Thyroglobulin
Thyroglobulin antibodies
Thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG)
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
TSH receptor antibodies (TSH Rab)
Thyroxine (T4)
Total
Free
Thyroxine index, free (FT4I)
TIBC See Iron-binding capacity (total)
Tobramycin, therapeutic
Transferrin
Transferrin saturation
Triglycerides (fasting)
Triiodothyronine (T3)
Triiodothyronine (T3) resin uptake
Troponin I
Uric acid
Urinalysis (urine)
pH
Specific gravity
Protein
Glucose
Conventional Units
Conversion
Factor
SI Units
4–6.2 × 106/μL
4–6.2 × 106/μL
106
106
4–6.2 × 1012/L
4–6.2 × 1012/L
4–5 × 106/μL
3.2–4.5 × 106/μL
3.0–4.9 × 106/μL
3.2–5 × 106/μL
11.5–14.5%
106
106
106
106
0.01
4–5 × 1012/L
3.2–4.5 × 1012/L
3.0–4.9 × 1012/L
3.2–5.0 × 106/L
0.115–0.145
0.5–1.5% of total RBC count
0.5–2.5% of total RBC count
2.7–7.6 mg/dL
Negative
150–300 mcg/mL or mg/L
15–30 mg/dL
135–145 mEq/L
0.01
0.01
10
0.005–0.015
0.005–0.025
27–76 mg/L
0.00724
0.0724
1
1.09–2.17 mmol/L
300–950 ng/dL
20–80 ng/dL
0.0347
10.4–33.0 nmol/L
0.7–2.8 nmol/L
9–30 ng/dL
0.3–1.9 ng/dL
0.0347
0.31–1.04 nmol/L
0.01–0.07 nmol/L
5–15 mcg/mL or mg/L
20 or more mcg/mL or mg/L
20–24 sec
Less than 42 ng/mL
Negative
1.2–2.5 mg/dL
0.35–6.20 microunits/mL
0–1 unit/mL
5.55
5.55
28–83 μmol/L
111 or more μmol/L
1
Less than 42 mcg/L
10
1
12–25 mcg/L
0.35–6.20 milliunits/L
4.5–12.0 mcg/dL
0.7–1.9 ng/dL
6.5–12.5
12.87
12.87
58–155 nmol/L
9.0–24.5 pmol/L
4–10 mcg/mL or mg/L peak
Less than or equal to 2
mcg/mL mg/L trough
200–430 mg/dL
30–50%
Less than 160 mg/dL
45–132 ng/dL
25–35%
Less than 0.6 ng/mL
3–8 mg/dL
2.14
2.14
0.01
0.01
0.0113
0.0154
8.6–21.4 μmol/L
Less than or equal to 4.28
μmol/L
2.0–4.3 g/L
0.30–0.50
Less than 1.8 mmol/L
0.91–2.70 nmol/L
1
59.48
Less than 0.6 g/L
179–476 μmol/L
135–145 mmol/L
6–12 ng/mL or mcg/L
4–10 ng/mL or mcg/L
10–18 ng/mL or mcg/L
10–20 ng/mL or mcg/L
4.8–8.0
1.005–1.030
Negative
Negative
63
Laboratory
Ketones
RBC
WBC
Valproic acid, therapeutic
Vancomycin, therapeutic trough for
CNS infections
Vitamin A (retinol)
Vitamin B12
Vitamin D3, 1, 25-dihydroxy
Vitamin D3, 25-hydroxy
Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol)
WBC count
WBC differential (peripheral blood)
Polymorphonuclear neutrophils
(PMNs)
Bands
Eosinophils
Basophils
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
WBC differential (bone marrow)
Polymorphonuclear neutrophils
(PMNs)
Bands
Metamyelocytes
Myelocytes
Promyelocytes
Myeloblasts
Eosinophils
Basophils
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
Zinc
Conventional Units
Negative
1–2 per low-power field
3–4 per low-power field
50–100 mcg/mL or mg/L
20–40 mcg/mL or mg/L peak
5–20 mcg/mL or mg/L trough
15–20 mcg/mL or mg/L
trough
30–95 mcg/dL
180–1,000 pg/mL
20–76 pg/m
10–50 ng/mL
0.5–2.0 mg/dL
4–10 × 103/μL or 4–10 ×
103/mm3
Conversion
Factor
SI Units
6.93
0.690
346–693 μmol/L
14–28 μmol/L peak
0.690
0.690
3–14 μmol/L trough
10–14 μmol/L trough
0.0349
0.738
2.4
2.496
23.22
106
1.05–3.32 μmol/L
133–738 pmol/L
48–182 pmol/L
25–125 nmol/L
12–46 μmol/L
4–10 × 109/L
0.153
9.2–23.0 μmol/L
50–65%
0–5%
0–3%
1–3%
25–35%
2–6%
3–11%
9–15%
9–25%
8–16%
1–8%
0–5%
1–5%
0–1%
11–23%
0–1%
60–150 mcg/dL