Metrication of Clinical Laboratory
Data in SI Units
H. P E T E R L E H M A N N , P H . D ,
Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University Medical Center,
1542 Tvlane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
ABSTRACT
Lehmann, H. Peter: Metrication of clinical laboratory data in SI units. Am J
Clin Pathol 65: 2 - 1 8 , 1976. The development and general concepts of
the Systeme International d' Unites (SI units) are discussed. T h e basic
and derived quantities and units of the SI used for clinical laboratory data
are reviewed. Ranges of normal values for a number of body fluid
constituents are given in the units in current general use and in SI units,
with the corresponding conversion factors. (Key words: SI units; Normal
values.)
1950's there has been a
movement in the scientific community
towards the standardization of units and
terminology. Many international and national organizations have been working
together on this project with the aim of
establishing a common language for reporting laboratory observations a n d
measurements, thereby removing ambiguities and improving communication
across international and interdisciplinary
scientific boundaries.
With the many rapid advances in the
fundamental physical sciences over the
past 50 years there exists now a better
understanding, in terms of basic atomic
and molecular properties, of the biochemical and physiologic phenomena observed
in health and disease. Thus certain aspects
of medicine are being transformed from a
qualitative to a quantitative base involving
data from interdisciplinary fields. This is
particularly apparent in the area of laboratory medicine where quantitative measurements of atomic, molecular and par-
SINCE T H E EARLY
Received J u n e 2, 1975; accepted for publication
July 22, 1975.
Address reprint requests to Dr. Lehmann.
ticulate species in body fluids are made as
increasingly useful diagnostic tools in patient care. Therefore, as changes are
made in the descriptions of terms and
units in the physical sciences they will
ultimately carry over into the medical
sciences.
T h e aim of this paper is to outline,
briefly, the development of the internationally recommended names and symbols
for quantities and units and to review the
basic principles of the Systeme International d' Unites (SI units). Also, to illustrate the changes that will occur upon
universal adoption of the units for reporting clinical laboratory data, tables in which
some of the most frequently measured
quantities in laboratory medicine have
been converted to SI units are included.
Development of the SI Units
In 1870, 17 countries, including the
United States, signed the Meter Convention. This led to the establishment of the
International Bureau of Weights and
Measures (Bureau International des Poids
et Mesures, BIPM), which acts as an
international standards reference labora-
January 1976
NORMAL VALUES IN SI UNITS
3
European Economic Community has directed its member countries, which had
already been using a metric system, towards the standardization of units of
measurement based on the SI. Countries
such as the United Kingdom, Australia,
Canada, and India are moving directly
from the use of imperial units to the SI.
In the United States, both the 92nd and the
93rd Congresses had bills to convert the
United States to the metric system, but
neither was enacted. The 94th Congress
has once again tabled bills on metrication.
To date, the Science and Technology
Committee of the House of Representatives
has reported on the bill, but the
Over the years since 1870 several absoSenate
Commerce
Committee has no
lute systems of units have been proposed
5
There
has, however,
hearings
planned.
in terms of the fundamental quantities of
been
sporadic
uncoordinated
activity by
mass, length, and time. The most comindividual
institutions,
promoting,
for
monly used are the centimetre, gramme,
example,
the
use
of
degrees
Celsius
in
second (CGS), the tonne, metre, second
thermometry.
(TMS), and the metre, kilogramme, second (MKS) systems. In 1960 the XI
SI Units in Laboratory Medicine
CGPM started to standardize the metric
units into a simplified, logical system
In parallel with the developments on
known as the "Systeme International
the generalized use of SI units, recomd' Unites," abbreviated to "SI units." Submendations for the standardized presequent refinements of the SI had been
sentation of clinical laboratory data based
made by the time of the XIV CGPM,
on the system were proposed by the
which was held in 1971. The present
Commission on Clinical Chemistry (CCC)
structure of the SI is probably the permaof the International Union of Pure and
nent one, and the only changes likely in
Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and the Inthe future are changes in the definition of
ternational Federation of Clinical Chemisthe base units as more accurate means of
try (IFCC). The IUPAC Commission on
measuring them become available. The
Physicochemical Symbols, Terminology
International Organization for Standand Units recommended quantities and
ardization (ISO), of which the American
units for chemists in a manual published
National Standards Institute is a member,
in 1970. 15 In order to conform to IUPAC
has endorsed the system and published a
regulations, the manual was preceded by a
guide for its use. 14 Similar guidelines on
tentative version for the purposes of input
SI units have been published in a number
from member organizations. Based on
of Technical News Bulletins by the United
this, Dybkaer and Jorgensen published
States National Bureau of Standards
Quantities
and Units in Clinical Chemistry,6
(NBS).20
which included Recommendation 1966
The major industrial nations of the of the IUPAC Commission on Clinical
world, with the exception of the United Chemistry and IFCC. Revisions of the
6
States, have taken many steps toward original recommendations were pubadoption and implementation of the SI lished by IUPAC/IFCC in Infonnation Bulleunits in all segments of their societies. The tins outlining Quantities and Units in Clinical
tory, and an 18-member International
Committee of Weights and Measures
(Comite International des Poids et Mesures, CIPM), whose purpose is to define
units, particularly metric units. Both
B1PM and CIPM operate under the authority of the General Conference of
Weights and Measures (Conference Generate des Poids et Mesures, CGPM),
which first met in 1875, and is the ultimate authority on the definition of units.
The decisions of CGPM are accepted by
the international scientific agencies and by
the national organizations of its member
countries, which currently number 41.
4
LEHMANN
Table 1. Basic Units
Quantity
Name
Symbol
Length
Mass
Time
Electric current
Thermodynamic temperature
Luminous intensity
Amount of substance
meter
kilogram
second
ampere
kelvin
candela
mole
m
kR
s
A
K
cd
mol
Table 2. Derived Units
Quantity
Unit Name
Unit Symbol
Area
square meter"
m2
Clearance
liter/second b
1/s
Concentration
Mass
Substance
kilogram/liter b
mole/liter"
kg/1
mol/I
Density
kilogram/liter b
kg/1
Electric
potential
volt"
V = kg m2/s3 A
Energy
Joule"
J = kg m2/s2
Force
Newton"
N = kg m/s2
Frequency
Hertz"
Hz = 1 cycle/s
Pressure
Pascal"
Pa = kg/m s2
Temperature
degree
Celsius"
°C = ° K - 273.15
Volume
cubic meter"
m3
a
b
Derived coherent unit.
Derived non-coherent unit.
Chemistry10 and a List of Quantities in Clinical Chemistry.11 The final proposals, Recommendation 1973,16,17 appeared in 1974.
In the interim, representatives of the
International Committee for Standardization in Hematology (ICSH), and the
World Association of (Anatomic and Clinical) Pathology Societies (WAPS), in addition to IFCC, agreed to recommend that
"the International System of Units (SI) is
accepted in its broad application." 13
Western Europe has taken the lead in
conversion of units in medicine to the SI.
In Britain an interdisciplinary working
party began consideration of the problem
in 197022 and presented their recommendations in 1974.2 As a result it is antici-
A.J.C.P.—Vol.
65
pated by the Department of Health that
the SI will be in general use in the
National Health Service as well as in
medical journals, such as the British Medical Journal, by the end of 1975. 4
In Australia the conversion to the SI
has already taken place through legislation (The Metric Conversion Act 1970)
and a collaborative educational process by
the Royal College of Pathologists of Australia and the Australian Association of
Clinical Biochemists. 23
In the United States the response to the
Recommendation 19666 and the IUPAC/
IFCC Information Bulletins 20 10 and 2 1 u
have r a n g e d from favorable 2 5 to
cautious 3 ' 12 or negative. 1,24 To date there
has been no combined effort by the
medical organizations to study the problems associated with the adoption of the
SI in medicine. It is probable, therefore,
that medical practitioners and scientists in
this country will first be confronted by SI
units through the European scientific literature.
SI Units—General Principles
Measurement of a physical quantity
such as length or mass implies the determination of the ratio of the physical
quantity of the sample to a reference
physical quantity measured in the same
dimension. The usefulness of the reference physical quantities lies in their measurement in an unambiguous manner. It
has been suggested 18 that the reference
quantities be communicable, explicit, reproducibly and readily measurable, and
practical in their usage. T o maintain the
overall aim of simplicity in a system of
units there should be as few reference
quantities as possible. A large number of
reference quantities would result in a
proliferation of units, whereas too few
would leave some physical quantities undefinable.
The SI provides base units of seven
dimensionally independent physical quantities, as shown in Table 1. These basic
units are defined in terms of standard
January 1976
5
NORMAL VALUES IN SI UNITS
physical properties of selected atoms or
molecules. 19,20d Units derived from the
base units are listed in Table 2. Only those
of general use in the clinical laboratory
are included. The derived units are of two
types: derived coherent units, constructed
from base units only, and derived noncoherent units, constructed from base
units and a numerical factor. Thus the
volume "cubic meter" is a derived coherent
unit being equal to 1 m 3 , the liter, on the
other hand, is a derived non-coherent
unit as it is equal to 1 dm 3 , where the
decimeter is the base unit meter multiplied by 10 _1 . The prefixes that have been
approved for use in naming decimal fractions or multiples of basic and derived SI
units are given in Table 3.
Table 3. Prefixes
Prefix
Prefix Symbol
Factor
tera
giga
mega
kilo
hecto
deca
T
G
M
k
h
da
1012
10"
106
103
102
10'
UNIT
deci
centi
milli
micro
nano
pico
femto
atto
1
d
c
m
/x
n
p
f
a
10"'
10"2
10 -3
10 -6
10"9
10~12
lO"15
10"' 8
and may therefore be considered to represent recommendations for the whole
field of clinical pathology. T h e feasibility
of rigid adoption of SI units for all clinical
laboratory measurements has been discussed and arguments presented for some
exceptions. 3,25
The major change when laboratory values are reported in SI units is that
quantities will be given as amount of
substance rather than as mass, even
though both are basic units of the system
(mole and kilogram, respectively). This is
the recommended unit in order to relate
to the chemical laws on the proportionality of combining atoms and molecules,
which refer to absolute numbers of the
fundamental species (moles), not to mass
quantities, and describe the simple numerical ratios that exist between numbers of
combining atoms or molecules. Reporting
laboratory data in mole quantities could,
therefore, reveal clinically useful intercompound relationships that might be
obscured by using mass quantities. FurSI Units in Clinical Pathology
thermore, in order to subscribe to one of
S u m m a r i e s of the
Recommendation the original reasons for the SI, clear
1973XM1 of IUPAC and IFCC have been interdisciplinary communication, mole
published. 7 Although the complete re- units now in widespread use in the basic
commendations refer to quantities and sciences should be used in clinical chemisunits in clinical chemistry, they contain try also.
information for hematology, clinical miFor laboratory results in SI the liter is
croscopy, coagulation and microbiology, retained as the fundamental unit of volThere are a number of anomalies in the
system as described. The kilogram (kg),
which is the base unit for mass (Table 1),
may be described as non-coherent derived
of the base unit gram. Also, the second (s)
is the base unit for time, but the minute
(min) and hour (h) are the accepted
derived non-coherent units for this quantity. The units as described were approved
by the CGMS because of their widespread
use and the chaos that would result if they
were abandoned. This illustrates a flexibility by CGMS in adherence to the principles of simplification and improvement
that are the objectives of the system. They
recommend, however, that compound
units of these not be used, i.e., the quantity milligram (mg) is to be used rather
than microkilogram (/ikg). Time should
be given in seconds rather than fractions
of minutes or hours, e.g., 100 s instead of
1.67 min, but 2 min is acceptable in place
of 120 s.
AJ.C.P.—Vol. 65
LEHMANN
Table 4. Whole Blood, Serum and Plasma Chemistry*
Normal Values
Test
Albumin
Salt fractionation
Electrophoresis
Dye binding
Material
Present Units
Serum
3.2-4.5 gm./dl.
3.2-5.6 gm./dl.
3.8-5.0 gm./dl.
Aldolase
Serum
3 - 8 Sibley Lehninger
units/dl.
8-Aminolevulinic
acid
Serum
0.01-0.03 mg./dl.
Plasma
Amylase
Factor
SI Units
0.154"
0.49-0.69 mmol/1
0.49-0.86 mmol/1
0.59-0.77 mmol/1
0.124"
0.4-1.0nkat/l
76.3
0.76-2.29/i.mol/1
20-150*ig./dl.
4 0 - 8 0 /ig./dl.
12-48 Mg./dl.
0.554
11.1-83.1 Mmol/1
22.2-44.3 Mmol/1
6.7-26.6 Mmol/1
Serum
6 0 - 1 6 0 Somogyi units/dl.
0.03 l c
1.86-4.96 Mkat/1
Arsenic
Whole blood
< 3 /u.g./dl.
0.13
<0.4 ^mol/l
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
Plasma
Whole blood
0.6-1.6 mg./dl.
0.7-2.0 mg./dl.
56.8
3 4 - 9 1 /imol/1
4 0 - 1 1 4 Mmol/1
Base, total
Serum
145-160mEq./l.
1
145-160 mmol/1
Bicarbonate
Plasma
2 1 - 2 8 mM./l.
1
2 1 - 2 8 mmol/1
Bile acids
Serum
0.3-3.0 mg./dl.
10
3.0-30.0 mg/1
Bilirubin
Direct or conjugated
Indirect or unconjugated
Total
Newborns—
total
Serum
Up to 0.3 mgVdl.
17.1
Up to 5.1 Mmol/1
Blood gases
Whole blood
Arterial
Ammonia
Diffusion method
Enzymatic method
Resin method
pH
Pco«
Po,
Bromide
Venous
Arterial
Venous
Arterial
Serum
0.1-1.0mg./dl.
1.7-17.1 Mmol/1
0.1-1.2 mg./dl.
1.7-20.5 Mmol/1
1.0-12.0 mgVdl.
17.1-205.0 Mmol/1
antilog
(-/>H)
7.38-7.44
7.36-7.41
3 5 - 4 0 mm. H g
4 0 - 4 5 mm. Hg
9 5 - 1 0 0 mm. Hg
0 - 5 mgVdl.
* Normal ranges taken by permission from Clinical Diagnosis by
Laboratory Methods, 15th edition, Eds. I. Davidson and J. B. Henry, W. B.
Saunders Co., Philadelphia, 1974.
•Based on a molecular weight for albumin of 65,000.
b
1 Sibley Lehninger unit = 0.74 ml.U.
c
I Somogyi unit - 0.185 I.U.
d
1 mm. Hg = 0.133 kPa.
•Percentages are expressed as number fractions, a dimensiunless
(juantity given by: the number of defined particles constituting the
specified component divided by the total number of defined particles in
the system.
' Factor based on a molecular weight of ceruloplasmin of 15 1,000.
•Units based on hydrogen ion concentration.
h
Factor based on the molecular weight of glycerol, 92.11.
'Factor based on a molecular weight for fibrinogen of 341,000.
' Factor based on a molecular weight for growth hormone of 21,500.
k
Factor based on a molecular weight for hemoglobin of 64,500.
1
Factor based on the molecular weight of Cortisol, 362.47.
m
[ H + ] : 36.3-41.7 nmol/1
0.133 d
38.9-43.7 nmol/1
4.7-5.3 kPa
5.3-6.0 kPa
12.6-13.3 kPa
0.125
0.0-0.6 mmol/1
0.133 d
I Wolfson Williams Ashman unit = 0.0167 ml.U.
Factor based on the molecular weight of dehydroepiandrosterone,
289.44.
• 1 Wacker unit = 0.48 I.U./l.
1 Wroblewski unit = 0.48 I.U./l.
p
1 Goldbarg Rutenberg unit = 0.24 ml.U./ml.
Q
1 Cherry Crandall unit = 278 ml.U./ml.
'Factor based on a molecular weight of phospholipids of 774.25
calculated from the phosphorus content of phospholipids of 4%.
• 1 Bodansky unit = 0 . 5 4 I.U.
1 King-Armstrong unit = 0.7 1 I.U.
1 Bessey-Lowry unit = 16.67 I.U.
1 Shinowara Jones Reinhardt unit = 0.54 I.U.
1
1 Karmen unit/ml = 0.48 ml.U./ml.
"Factor based on die molecular weight of cysteine, 121.16.
"Factor based on an effective molecular weight for estrogens of
278.55, calculated from the molecular weights of estrone, estradiol and
estriol in the ratio 2:1:2.
n
January 1976
7
NORMAL VALUES IN SI UNITS
Table 4. (Continued)
Normal Values
Test
BSP (bromsulfonphthalein)
Material
Present Units
Factor
SI Units
Serum
< 6 % retention after 45
min.
0.01"
<0.06 retention after 45
min
Serum
4.2-5.2 mgVdl.
2.1-2.6 mEq./l.
5 0 - 5 8 % of total
9.0-10.6 mgVdl.
4.5-5.3 mEq./l.
11.0-13.0 mgVdl.
0.25
0.5
0.01"
0.25
0.5
0.25
1.05-1.30 mmolil
19-24 mM.il.
2 2 - 2 6 mM./l.
1
(5 mg./kg.)
Calcium
Ionized
Total
Infants
Carbon dioxide
C 0 2 content
COj combining
power
C 0 2 partial pressure— Pco,
Carbonic acid
Whole blood
Arterial
Venous
Plasma or serum
Arterial
Venous
Plasma or serum
Venous
Whole blood
Arterial
Venous
Whole blood
Arterial
Venous
Plasma
Venous
3 5 - 4 0 mm. Hg
4 0 - 4 5 mm. Hg
1.05-1.45 mM.il.
1.15-1.50 mM.il.
2.75-3.25 mmolil
19-24 mmolil
2 2 - 2 6 mmolil
2 1 - 2 8 mmolil
2 4 - 3 0 mmolil
2 1 - 2 8 mM.il.
2 4 - 3 0 mM.il.
2 4 - 3 0 mM.il.
0.50-0.58 of total
2.25-2.65 mmolil
1
2 4 - 3 0 mmolil
0.0133 d
1
4.7-5.3 kPa
5.3-6.0 kPa
1.05-1.45 mmolil
1.15-1.50 mmolil
1.02-1.38 mM.il.
1.02-1.38 mmolil
Ceruloplasmin
Serum
2 3 - 5 0 mg.idl.
0.066'
1.52-3.30 mmolil
Chloride
Serum
9 5 - 103 mEq.il.
1
9 5 - 1 0 3 mmolil
Cholesterol, total
Serum
150-250 mg.idl.
0.026
3.90-6.50 mmol/1
Cholesterol esters
Serum
6 5 - 7 5 % of total
cholesterol
0.01*
0.65-0.75 of total
cholesterol
Cholinesterase
(pseudocholinesterase)
Erythrocytes
Plasma
0.65- 1.00 pH units
0.50-1.30 pH units
8 - 1 8 LU.il. at 37 C.
0.0167
0.65-1.00 units"
0.50-1.30 units'
0.13-0.30 fikatil at 37 C.
Citric acid
Serum or plasma
1.7-3.0 mg.idl.
52
88-156/i.molil
Copper
Male
Female
Serum or plasma
70-140Mgidl.
85-155/j.g./dl.
0.157
11.0-22.0/tmolil
13.3-24.3 mmolil
Cortisol
Plasma
8 a m - 1 0 am
4 p m - 6 pm
5 - 2 5 /xg.idl.
2-18/xg.idl.
27.6
138-690 nmolil
5 5 - 4 9 7 nmolil
0.2-0.6 mg.idl.
0.6-1.0mg.idl.
76.3
15-46 mmolil
4 6 - 7 6 /imolil
10-100 mLUVml. at 37 C.
10-60 mLUVml. at 37 C.
0.6-1.2 mg.idl.
0.0167
0.17-1.67 /ikatil
0.17-1.00/xkatil
5 3 - 1 0 6 jtmolil
123 ± 16 ml.imin.
97 ± 10 ml.imin.
0.0167
Creatine
Male
Female
Serum or plasma
Creatine phosphokinase
Male
Female
Creatinine
Serum
Creatinine clearance
(endogenous)
Male
Female
Serum or plasma
Serum or plasma
and urine
—
88.4
2.05 ± 0.27 mlis
1.62 ± 0.17 mlis
AJ.C.P.—Vol. 65
LEHMANN
Table 4. (Continued)
Normal Values
Test
Material
Present Units
Factor
SI Units
Fats, neutral
Serum or plasma
0 - 2 0 0 mg./dl.
0.109"
0-21.8 mmol/1
Fatty acids
Total
Free
Serum
Plasma
9 - 1 5 mM./l.
300-480 fiEq./l
1
1
9 - 1 5 mmol/1
300-480 nmol/1
Fibrinogen
Plasma
200-400 mg./dl.
0.029 1
5.8-11.6/xmol/1
Folate (bioassay)
Serum
Erythrocytes
5 - 2 5 ng./ml.
166-640 ng./ml.
2.27
11-57 nmol/1
376-1452 nmol/1
Serum
2.3-3.5 gm./dl.
0.5-1.6 gm./dl.
10
2 3 - 3 5 g/l
5 - 1 6 g/l
Glucose, fasting
Serum or plasma
Whole blood
7 0 - 110 mg./dl.
6 0 - 1 0 0 mg./dl.
0.055
3.85-6.05 mmol/1
3.30-5.50 mmol/1
Glucose tolerance
(oral)
Serum or plasma
Fasting
30 min.
70-110 mg./dl.
3 0 - 6 0 mg./dl. above
fasting
2 0 - 5 0 mg./dl. above
fasting
5 - 15 mg./dl. above
fasting
Fasting level or below
0.055
3.85-6.05 mmol/1
1.65-3.30 mmol/1 above
fasting
1.10-2.75 mmol/1 above
fasting
0.28-0.83 mmol/1 above
fasting
Fasting level or below
Globulin
Total
Gamma
60 min.
120 min.
180 min.
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)
Erythrocytes
250-500 units/10 6 cells
1200-2000 ml.U./ml.
packed erythrocytes
—
0.0167
250-500 units/10 6 cells
20.0-33.3 Mat/1 packed
erythrocytes
Growth hormone
Serum
<10 ng./ml.
0.047J
<0.47 nmol/1
Haptoglobin
Serum
100-200 mg./dl. as hemoglobin binding capacity
0.155"
15.5-31.0 /xmol/1 as
hemoglobin binding
capacity
Hemoglobin
Male
Female
17 Hydroxycorticosteroids
Male
Female
Serum or plasma
Whole blood
Whole blood
0.5-5.0 mg./dl.
13.5-18.0 gm./dl.
12.0-16.0 gm./dl.
0.155"
0.155"
0.08-0.78 /xmol/1
2.09-2.79 mmol/1
1.86-2.48 mmol/1
Plasma
7-19/xg./dl.
9 - 2 1 Mg/dl.
0.0281
0.20-0.53 /xmol/1
0.25-0.59 /xmol/1
* Normal ranges taken by permission from Clinical Diagnosis by
Laboratory Methods, 15th edition, Eds. I. Davidson and J. li. Henry, W. B.
Saunders Co., Philadelphia. 1974.
a
Based on a molecular weight for albumin of 65,000.
b
1 Siblev Lehninger unit = 0.74 ml.U.
c
I Somogyi unit ^ 0.185 I.U.
u
1 mm. Hg = 0.133 kPa.
e
Permit ages are expressed as number fractions, a dimensionless
(jiiantity given by: the mini tier of defined particles constituting the
specified component divided by the total number of defined particles in
the system.
'Factor based on a molecular weight of ceruloplasmin of 151.000.
•Units based on hydrogen ion concentration.
h
Factor based on the molecular weight of glycerol. 92.11.
1
Factor based on a molecular weight for fibrinogen of 34 1,000.
1
Factor based on a molecular weight for growth hormone of 21,500.
k
Factor based on a molecular weight for hemoglobin of 64.500.
1
Factor based on the molecular weight of Cortisol, 362.47.
m
1 Wolfson Williams Ashman unit = 0.0167 ml.U.
"Factor based on the molecular weight of dehydroepiandrosterone,
289.44.
°1 Wacker unit = 0.48 l.U./l.
1 Wroblewski unit = 0.48 I.U./I.
p
1 Goldbarg Rutenberg unit = 0.24 ml.U ./ml.
11
1 Cherry Crandall unit = 278 ml.U./ml.
r
Factor based on a molecular weight of phospholipids of 774.25
calculat'ed from the phosphorus content of phospholipids of 4^,.
' 1 Bodansky unit = 0.54 l.U.
1 King-Armstrong unit = 0.71 I.U.
1 Bessey-Lowry unit = 16.67 I.U.
1 Shinowara Jones Reinhaidt unit = 0 . 5 4 I.U.
1
1 Karmen unit/ml = 0.48 ml.U./ml.
" Factor based on the molecular weight of cysteine. 121.16.
v
Factor based on an effective molecular weight for estrogens of
278.55, calculated from the molecular weights of estrone, estradiol and
estriol in the ratio 2:1:2.
January 1976
NORMAL VALUES IN SI UNITS
Table 4. {Continued)
Normal Values
Test
Iodine
Butanol extraction (BE1)
Protein-bound
(PBI)
Iron
Total
Binding capacity
Saturation
Material
Serum
Present Units
3.5-6.5 /xg./dl.
Factor
0.079
0.28-0.51 fxmol/1
0.32-0.63 /xmol/1
4.0-8.0 Mg/dl.
Serum
SI Units
50-150|ug./dl.
250-450 ^g./dl.
20-55%
0.179
0.0 l e
9.0-26.9 piniol/1
44.8-80.6 n.mol/1
0.20-0.55 of total ironbinding capacity
Isocitric dehydrogenase
Serum
5 0 - 2 5 0 U./ml.
(Wolfson-Williams Ashman units)
0.279 m
13.9-69.7 nkat/1
17-ketosteroids
Plasma
2 5 - 1 2 5 /xg./dl.
0.035"
0.86-4.38 fimol/1
Lactic acid
Whole blood
Venous
Arterial
5 - 2 0 mgVdl.
3 - 7 mg./dl.
0.111
0.55-2.22 mmol/1
0.33-0.78 mmol/1
8 0 - 1 2 0 Wacker units
150-450 Wroblewski
units
70-207 I.U./l.
0.008°
0.008°
0.64-0.96 //.kat/1
1.20-3.61 /ikat/1
0.0167
1.19-3.46/ikat/1
Anode:
17-27%
27-37%
18-25%
3-8%
Cathode: 0 - 5 %
0.0 l e
0.17-0.27
0.27-0.37
0.18-0.25
0.03-0.08
0.00-0.05
0 - 5 0 /ig./dl.
0.048
0-2.4 nmol/1
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes
LDH,
LDH 2
LDH 3
LDH 4
LDH 5
Lead
Leucine amino peptidase (LAP)
Male
Female
Serum
Serum
Whole blood
of
of
of
of
of
total
total
total
total
total
LDH
LDH
LDH
LDH
LDH
Serum
0.0041"
8 0 - 2 0 0 units/ml.
75-185 units/ml.
(Goldbarg Rutenberg units)
Lipase
Serum
Lipids
Total
Cholesterol
Triglycerides
Phospholipids
Fatty acids
Neutral fat
Phospholipid
phosphorus
Serum
0.32-0.80 /xkat/1
0.30-0.74 /ikat/1
0 - 1.5 Cherry Crandall
units/ml.
14-280 ml.U./ml.
4.64"
0-7.0 ^kat/1
0.0167
0.23-4.68 /xkat/1
400-800 mg./dl.
150-250 mg./dl.
10-190 mg./dl.
150-380 mgVdl.
9.0-15.0 mM./l.
0 - 2 0 0 mg./dl.
8.0-11.0 mg./dl.
10
0.026
0.109°
0.0129 r
1
0.109"
0.323
4.0-8.0 g/1
3.90-6.50 mmol/1
1.1-20.7 mmol/1
1.94-4.90 mmol/1
9.0-15.0 mmol/1
0.0-21.8 mmol/1
2.58-3.55 mmol/1
Lithium (therapeutic level)
Serum
0.5-1.5 mEq./l.
1
0.5-1.5 mmol/1
Magnesium
Serum
1.5-2.5 mEq./l.
1.8-3.0 mg./dl.
0.5
0.41
0.75-1.25 mmol/1
Methemoglobin
Whole blood
0-0.24 gm./dl.
0.4-1.5% of total hemoglobin
0.155"
0.0 l e
0.0-0.037 mmol/1
0.004-0.015 of total
hemoglobin
A.J.C.P.—Vol. 65
LEHMANN
10
Table 4. {Continued)
Normal Values
Test
Material
Present Units
Factor
SI Units
Nonprotein nitrogen (NPN)
Serum or plasma
Whole blood
2 0 - 3 5 mg./dl.
2 5 - 5 0 mg./dl.
0.714
14.3-25.0 mmol/1
17.9-35.7 mmol/1
Ornithine carbamyl transferase
Serum
8 - 2 0 mI.U./ml.
0.0167
0.13-0.33 Mkat/1
Osmolality
Serum
280-295 m O s m A
1.86
521-549 mK
Whole blood,
arterial
Whole blood,
arterial
Whole blood,
arterial
9 5 - 1 0 0 mm. Hg
0.133 d
12.6-13.3 kPa
15-23 volume %
0.01"
0.15-0.23 of volume
94-100%
0.01"
0.94-1.00 of total
7.38-7.44
7.36-7.41
antilog
(-/>H)
[ H + ] : 36.3-41.7 nmol/1
38.9-43.7 nmol/1
Oxygen
Pressure(P 0 ,)
Content
Saturation
pH
Whole blood
Arterial
Venous
Serum or plasma
Venous
Phenylalanine
Adults
Newborns
Serum
Phosphatase
Acid
Serum
Alkaline
Serum
7.35-7.45
35.5-44.7 nmol/1
<3.0 mg./dl.
1.2-3.5 mg./dl.
0.061
<0.18 mmol/1
0.073-0.214 mmol/1
0-1.1 U./ml. (Bodansky)
1-4 U./ml. (KingArmstrong)
0.13-0.63 U./ml. (BesseyLowry)
0-6.0 U./ml. (Shinowara
Jones Reinhart)
8.97 s
11.8s
0.0-9.9 /xkat/1
12-47/ikat/1
278 s
36-175/ikat/1
8.97 s
0 - 5 4 fikat/\
1.5-4.5 U./dl. (Bodansky)
4 - 1 3 U./dl. (KingArmstrong)
0.8-2.3 U./ml. (BesseyLowry)
15-35 U./ml. (Shinowara
Jones Reinhart)
0.087 s
0.118 s
0.13-0.39 jikat/1
0.47-1.53 fikat/1
278 s
222-639 jikat/1
8.97
s
135-316/ikat/1
Phospholipid
phosphorus
Serum
8 - 11 mg./dl.
0.323
2.6-3.6 mmol/1
Phosphilipids
Serum
150-380 mg./dl.
0.0129 r
1.94-4.90 mmol/1
* Normal ranges taken by permission from Clinical Diagnosis by
Laboratory Methods, 15th edition, Eds. I. Davidson and J. B. Henry, W. B.
Saunders Co., Philadelphia, 1974.
•Based on a molecular weight for albumin of 65,000.
b
1 Sibley Lehninger unit = 0.74 ml.U.
c
l Somogyi unit = 0.185 l.U.
M mm. Hg = 0.133 kPa.
'Percentages are expressed as number fractions, a dimensionless
quantity given by: the number of defined particles constituting the
specified component divided by the total number of defined particles in
the system.
'Factor based on a molecular weight of ceruloplasmin of 151,000.
•Units based on hydrogen ion concentration.
h
Factor based on the molecular weight of glycerol, 92.11.
'Factor based on a molecular weight for fibrinogen of 341,000.
1
Factor based on a molecular weight for growth hormone of 21,500.
k
Factor based on a molecular weight for hemoglobin of 64,500.
1
Factor based on the molecular weight of Cortisol, 362.47.
m
1 Wolfson Williams Ashman unit = 0.0167 ml.U.
"Factor based on the molecular weight of d eh yd roe pi and roster one,
289.44.
0
1 Wacker unit = 0.48 l.U A
1 Wroblewski unit = 0.48 1.U./1.
p
1 Goidbarg Rutenberg unit = 0.24 ml.U./ml.
fl
1 Cherry Crandall unit = 278 ml.U./ml.
'Factor based on a molecular weight of phospholipids of 774.25
calculated from the phosphorus content of phospholipids of 4%.
* 1 Bodansky unit = 0.54 l.U.
1 King-Armstrong unit = 0.71 l.U.
1 Bessey-Lowry unit = 16.67 l.U.
I Shinowara Jones Reinhardt unit = 0.54 l.U.
1
1 Karmen unit/ml = 0.48 mI.U./ml.
a
Factor based on the molecular weight of cysteine, 121.16,
"Factor based on an effective molecular weight for estrogens of
278.55, calculated from the molecular weights of estrone, estradiol and
estriol in the ratio 2:1:2.
January 1976
11
NORMAL VALUES IN SI UNITS
Table 4. (Continued)
Normal Values
Test
Phosphorus, inorganic
Adults
Material
Serum
Children
Present Units
1.8-2.6
3.0-4.5
2.3-4.1
4.0-7.0
mEq./l.
mg./dl.
mEq./l.
mgVdl.
Factor
SI Units
0.323
0.97- 1.45 mmol/1
0.323
1.29-2.26 mmol/1
3.8-5.0 mEq./l.
1
3.8-5.0 mmol/1
6.0-7.8 gm./dl.
10
6 0 - 7 8 g/1
Albumin
Alpha-1 globulin
52.0-65.0%
2.5-5.0%
0.01 e
Alpha-2 globulin
Beta globulin
Gamma globulin
Concentration
Albumin
Alpha-1 globulin
Alpha-2 globulin
Beta globulin
Gamma globulin
7.0-13.0%
8.0-14.0%
12.0-22.0%
0.52-0.65 of total protein
0.025-0.05 of total
protein
0.07-0.13 of total protein
0.08-0.14 of total protein
0.12-0.22 of total protein
0.154"
10
0.49-0.86 mmol/1
1.0-4.0 g/1
4.0-12.0 g/1
5.0-11.0 g/1
5.0-16.0 g/1
Potassium
Plasma
Protein
Total
Electrophoresis
Serum
(%)
3.2-5.6
0.1-0.4
0.4-1.2
0.5-1.1
0.5-1.6
gm./dl.
gm./dl.
gm./dl.
gm./dl.
gm./dl.
Protoporphyrin
Erythrocytes
15-50 /ugVdl.
0.018
0.27-0.90 /xmol/1
Pyruvate
Whole blood
0.3-0.9 mg./dl.
114
34-103/imol/l
Salicylate (therapeutic level)
Serum
2 0 - 2 5 mg./dl.
0.072
1.44-1.80 mmol/1
Sodium
Plasma
136-142 mEq./l.
1
136-142 mmol/1
Sulfate, inorganic
Serum
0.2-1.3mEq./l.
0.9-6.0 mg./dl. as S O r "
0.104
0.09-0.62 mmol/1 as S 0 4 ~
400-1200 ng./dl.
3 0 - 1 2 0 ng./dl.
0.035
14.0-42.0 nmol/1
1.1-4.2 nmol/1
5.0-11.0/ig-/dl.
6.0-11.8 Mg./dl.
13.0
6 5 - 1 4 3 nmol/1
7 8 - 1 5 3 nmol/1
Testosterone
Male
Female
Thyroid hormone
tests
a. As thyroxine
T 4 by column
T 4 by competitive binding
(Murphy
Patee)
Free T 4
b. As iodine:
T 4 by column
T 4 by competitive binding
(Murphy
Patee)
Free T 4
Serum or plasma
Serum
12-30 pmol/1
0.9-2.3 ng./dl.
3.2-7.2 Mg./dl.
3.9-7.7 /ig./dl.
79.0
253-569 nmol/1
3 0 8 - 6 0 8 nmol/1
0.6-1.5 ng./dl.
4 7 - 1 1 9 pmol/1
T 4 resin uptake
Serum
2 5 - 3 8 relative % uptake
0.01
Thyroxine-binding
globulin
Serum
10-26 /*g./dl.
10
e
0.25-0.38 relative uptake
100-260 Mg/1
12
AJ.C.P.—Vol. 65
LEHMANN
Table 4. {Continued)
Normal Values
Test
Transaminases
Asparate amino
transferase
(SCOT)
Alanine amino
transferase
Material
Present Units
SI Units
Factor
Serum
8 - 3 3 U./ml. (Karmen
units)
8.02'
6 4 - 2 6 5 nkat/1
1-36 U./ml. (Karmen
units)
8.02'
8 - 2 8 9 nkat/1
Serum
10-190 mg./dl.
0.109"
1.1-20.7 mmol/1
Serum
8-18mg./dl.
0.357
2.9-6.4 mmol/1
6 4 - 9 9 ml./min.
0.0167
1.07-1.65 ml/s
4 1 - 6 5 ml./min. or more
than 75% of normal
(0.0 l e )
0.68-1.09 ml/s or more
than 0.75 of normal
clearance
SGPT)
Triglycerides
Urea nitrogen
Urea clearance
Maximum clearance
Standard clearance
Serum and urine
Uric acid
Male
Female
Serum
Vitamin A
Serum
Vitamin B 12
Male
Female
Serum
Zinc
Serum
2.1-7.8 mg./dl.
2.0-6.4 mgVdl.
0.059
0.12-0.46 mmol/1
0.12-0.38 mmol/1
15-60/xg./dl.
0.035
0.53-2.10 jumol/1
200-800 pg./ml.
100-650 pg./ml.
0.74
148-592 pmol/1
7 4 - 4 8 1 pmol/1
50-150/ig./dl.
0.153
7.7-23.0 jtmol/1
Table 5. Urine
Normal Values
Test
Specimen
Addis count
WBC and epiithelial cells
RBC
Hyalin casts
12 hr. collection
Albumin
24 hr.
10-100 mg./24 hr.
0.0154"
0.15-1.54^mol/24 h
Aldosterone
24 hr.
2 - 2 6 Mg/24 hr.
2.77
5.5-72.0 nmol/24 h
Present Units
1,800,000/12 hr.
500,000/12 hr.
0-5,000/12 hr.
* Normal ranges taken by permission from Clinical Diagnosis b\
Laboratory Methods, 15th edition, Eds. I. Davidson and J. B. Henry, W. B.
Saunders Co., Philadelphia, 1974.
•Based on a molecular weight for albumin of 65,000.
b
1 Sibley Lehnmger unit = 0.74 ml.U.
e
1 Somogyi unit = 0.185 l.U.
d
l mm. Hg = O.I33 kPa.
"Percentages are expressed as number fractions, a dimensionless
quantity given by: the number of defined particles constituting the
specified component divided by the total number of defined panicles in
the system.
'Factor based on a molecular weight of ceruloplasmin of 151,000.
•Units based on hydrogen ion concentration.
h
Factor based on the molecular weight of glycerol, 92.11.
'Factor based on a molecular weight for fibrinogen of 341,000.
1
Factor based on a molecular weight for growth hormone of 2 1,500.
h
Factor based on a molecular weight for hemoglobin of 64,500.
1
Factor based on die molecular weight of Cortisol, 362.47.
m
SI Units
Factor
1
1
1.8 x 106/12 h
0.5 x 106/12 h
0.5 x
Wl\2\\
I Wolfson Williams Ashman unit = 0.0167 ml.U.
Factor based on the molecular weight of dehydroepiandrosterone,
289.44.
°1 Wacker unit = 0 . 4 8 I.U./I.
1 Wroblewski unit = 0.48 I.U./1.
p
1 Goldbarg Rutenberg unit = 0.24 ml.U./ml.
q
I Cherry Crandall unit = 278 ml.U./ml.
r
Factor based on a molecular weight of phospholipids of 774.25
calculated from the phosphorus content of phospholipids of 4%.
• 1 Bodansky unit = 0.54 l.U.
1 King-Armstrong unit = 0.71 l.U.
1 Bessey-Lowry unit = 16.67 l.U.
1 Shinowara Jones Reinhardt unit = 0.54 l.U.
' 1 Karmen unit/ml = 0.48 mI.U./ml.
"Factor based on the molecular weight of cysteine, 121.16.
"Factor based on an effective molecular weight for estrogens of
278.55, calculated from the molecular weights of estrone, estradiol and
estriol in the ratio 2:1:2.
n
January 1976
13
NORMAL VALUES IN SI UNITS
Table 5. (Continued)
Normal Values
Test
Specimen
Alpha-amino acid nitrogen
24 hr.
8-Aminolevulinic acid
Adult
Children
Random
24 hr.
Ammonia nitrogen
24 hr.
SI Units
Present Units
Factor
100-290 mg./24 hr.
0.0714
7.14-20.71 mmol/24h
0.1-0.6 mg./dl.
<0.5 mg./dl.
1.5-7.5 mg./24hr.
76.3
7.6-45.8 /umol/1
<38.1 Aimol/1
11.5-57.2 /imol/24h
2 0 - 7 0 mEq./24 hr.
500-1200 mg./24 hr.
7.63
0.071
35.5-85.2 mmol/24 h
c
Amylase
2hr.
3 5 - 2 6 0 Somogyi units/hr.
0.003 l
Arsenic
24 hr.
<50 ng./\.
0.013
<0.65 *imol/l
Ascorbic acid
Random
24 hr.
1-7 mg./dl.
> 5 0 mg./24 hr.
0.057
0.0057
0.06-0.40 mmol/1
>0.29 mmol/24 h
Calcium
Average diet
Low-Ca diet
High-Ca diet
24 hr.
100-250 mg./24hr.
<150mg./24 hr.
250-300 mg./24 hr.
0.025
2.50-6.25 mmol/24 h
<3.75 mmol/24 h
6.25-7.50 mmol/24 h
Catecholamines
Random
24 hr.
O-14/ig./dl.
< 100 /u.g./24 hr. (varies with
activity
0.059
0.0059
0 - 0 . 8 3 /nmol/1
<0.59 /nmol/24 h
Chloride
24 hr.
140-250 mEq./24 hr.
1
140-250 mmol/24 h
Concentration tests
Specific gravity
Osmolality
Random
> 1.025
>850 mOsm./l.
1
0.0186
> 1.025
>1.58 K
3 - 2 0 Mg./dl.
50-160/*g./24hr.
0-80/ug./24hr.
0.015
0.0015
0.045-0.030 /iinol/1
0.075-0.240 /Ltmol/24 h
0-0.120/i.mol/24 h
0 - 4 0 mg./24 hr.
0 - 1 0 0 m g . / 2 4 hr.
0.0076
0-0.30 mmol/24 h
0-0.76 mmol/24 h
1.0-2.0 gm./24 hr.
0.8-1.8 gm./24 hr.
8.8
8.8-17.6 mmol/24 h
7.0-15.8 mmol/24 h
Coproporphyrin
Adult
Adult
Children
Random
24 hr.
24 hr.
0.11-0.81 /ikat/h
Creatine
Male
Female
24 hr.
Creatinine
Male
Female
24 hr.
Cystine and cysteine
24 hr.
10-100mg./24 hr.
0.0083"
0.08-0.83 mmol/24 h
Epinephrine
24 hr.
0 - 2 0 ^ g . / 2 4 hr.
0.0055
0-0.11 /imoI/24 h
Estrogens, total
Male
Female
24 hr.
5 - 1 8 jig./24 hr.
2 2 - 1 0 5 /ig./24 hr.
0.00359 v
0.018-0.065 ^mol/24 h
0.079-0.377 /xmol/24 h
Estrogens, fractionated
Estrone (E1)
Estradiol (E2)
Estriol (E3)
24 hr.
2 - 2 5 ^g./24 hr.
0 - 10 ^g./24 hr.
2 - 3 0 fig./24 hr.
3.7
3.7
3.7
7 - 9 3 nmol/24 h
0 - 3 7 nmol/24 h
7 - 1 0 5 nmol/24 h
FIGLU (N-formimino
glutamic acid)
24 hr.
< 3 mg./24 hr.
5.7
< 1 7 jwnol/24 h
3 0 - 6 5 mg./24 hr.
0.0056
0.17-0.36 mmol/24 h
Average 250 mg./24 hr.
Average 130 mg./24 hr.
0.0056
Average 250 mg/24 h
Average 0.73 mmol/24 h
<15 mg./24 hr.
5.5
<83.0 /imol/24 h
Fructose
24 hr.
Glucose
Total sugars
Glucose
24 hr.
Homovanillic acid (HVA)
24 hr.
14
A.J.C.P.—Vol. 65
LEHMANN
Table 5. (Continued)
Normal Values
Specimen
17- H ydroxycorticosteroids
Male
Female
24 hr.
5-Hydroxyindoleacetic
acid (5H1AA)
Present Units
Factor
SI Units
0 . 5 - 14.5 mg./24 hr.
4.9-12.9 mg./24 hr.
3.45"
19.0-50.1 /xmol/24 h
16.9-44.6 /xmol/24 h
24 hr.
< 9 mg./24 hr.
5.2
< 4 7 /xmol/24 h
Indican
24 hr.
10-20 mg./24 hr.
4.7
4 7 - 9 4 /xmol/24 h
1 7-ketosteroids
Male
Female
Children 12-15 yr.
< 12 yr.
Androsterone
Male
Female
Dehydroepiandrosterone
Male
Female
24 hr.
8 - 1 5 mg./24 hr.
6-11.5 mg./24 hr.
5 - 1 2 mg./24 hr.
< 5 mg./24 hr.
3.46"
2 8 - 5 2 /xmol/24 h
21-40/xmol/24 h
17-41 /xmol/24 h
< 17/xmol/24 h
2.0-5.0 mg./24 hr.
0.8-3.0 mg./24 hr.
3.44
6.9-17.2 /xmol/24 h
2 . 8 - 10.3 /xmol/24 h
24 hr.
0.2-2.0 mg./24 hr.
0.2-1.8 mg./24 hr.
3.46
0.7-6.9 /xmol/24 h
0.7-6.2 /xmol/24 h
Lead
24 hr.
< 100 /xg./24 hr.
0.0048
<0.48 /xmol/24 h
Magnesium
24 hr.
6.0-8.5 mEq./24 hr.
0.5
3.0-4.3 mmol/24 h
3-Methoxy-4 hydroxymandelic acid (VMA)
Adults
Infants
24 hr.
1.5-7.5 mg./24 hr.
83 /xg./kg./24 hr.
5.05
0.0051
7.6-37.9 /xmol/24 h
0.42 /xmol/kg/24 h
Osmolality
Random
500-800 mOsm./l.
0.00186
0.93-1.49 K
4.6-8.0
Antilog
[FT]: 24/xmol/l-10
nmol/1
24 hr.
/'H
Random
Phosphorus
Porphobilinogen
Random
24 hr.
0.9-1.3 gm./24hr.
0-2.0 mg./24 hr.
32
4.42
0-8.8 /xmol/24 h
Potassium
24 hr.
4 0 - 8 0 mEq./24 hr.
1
4 0 - 8 0 mmol/24 h
Pregnanediol
Male
Female
24 hr.
0 - 1 mg./24 hr.
1-8 mg./24 hr.
3.12
0 - 3 /xmol/24 h
3 - 2 5 /xmol/24 h
Protein
24 hr.
10-100 mg./24 hr.
Sodium
24 hr.
8 0 - 1 8 0 mEq./24hr.
(-£H)
* Normal ranges laken by permission from Clinical Diagnosis by
lf>lli e d i t i o n . Fd:s. 1. Davidson and J . 11. Henry, \V. B.
Saunders Co.. Philadelphia. 1974.
"Based on a molecular weight for albumin of 65,000.
h
I Sibley Lehninger unit = 0.74 ml.U.
c
1 Somogyi unit = 0.185 I.U.
" I mm. llg = 0.133 kl'a.
e
I'crcenlages tire expressed as nundjer fractions, a dimensionless
(piantily given hy: the niunljer of defined particles constituting the
specified component divided hy the total number of defined particles in
I he system.
'Factor based on a molecular weight of ceruloplasmin of 151.000.
* Units based on hydrogen ion concentration.
h
Factor based on the molecular weight of glycerol, 92.11.
1
Faclor based on a molecular weight for fibrinogen of 341,000.
1
Faclor based on a molecular weight for growth hormoneof 21,500.
k
Faclor based on a molecular weight for hemoglobin of 64,500.
1
Faclor based on the molecular weight of Cortisol, 362.47.
Labnratoi-y Methods,
m
—
1
2 9 - 4 2 mmol/24 h
10-100 mg/24 h
8 0 - 1 8 0 mmol/24 h
1 Wolfson Williams Ashman unit = 0.0167 ml.U.
"Factor based on the molecular weight ofdehydroepiandrostcrone.
289.44.
0
1 Wacker unit = 0.48 I.U A
1 Wroblewski unit = 0.48 I.U A
B
1 Goldbarg Rutenberg unit = 0.24 ml.U./ml.
" 1 Cherry Crandall unit = 278 ml.U./ml.
r
Factor based on a molecular weight of phospholipids of 77
calculated from the phosphorus content of phospholipids of 4 ^ .
s
1 Bodansky unit = 0.54 I.U.
1 King-Armstrong unit = 0.7 1 I.U.
I Bessey-Lowry unit = 16.67 I.U.
I Shinowara Jones Reinhardt unit = 0.54 I.U.
1
1 Karmen unit/ml = 0.48 nil.U./nil.
u
Factor based on the molecular weight of cysteine. 121.16.
v
Factor based on an effective molecular weight for estrogen
278.55. calculated from the molecular weights of estrone, estradiol
estriol in the ratio 2:1:2.
January 1976
15
NORMAL VALUES IN SI UNITS
Table 5. (Continued)
Normal Values
Test
Specimen
Specific gravity
Normal fluid intake
Range
Random
Titratable acidity
Present Units
Factor
SI Units
1.016-1.022
1.001-1.035
1
1.016-1.022
1.001-1.035
24 hr.
2 0 - 5 0 mEq./24 hr.
1
2 0 - 5 0 mmol/24 h
Urea nitrogen
24 hr.
6 - 1 7 gm./24 hr.
0.0357
0.21-0.60 mol/24 h
Uric acid
24 hr.
250-750 mg./24 hr.
0.0059
1.48-4.43 mmol/24 h
Urobilinogen
24 hr.
0.05-2.5 mg./24 hr.
1.69
0.09-4.23 p.mol/24 h
10-30 /ig./24 hr.
1.2
12-36 nmol/24h
Uroporphyrins
24 hr.
Vanillylmandelic acid
(VMA)
24 hr.
1.5-7.5 mg./24hr.
5.05
7.6-37.9 jimol/24 h
Volume-total
24 hr.
600-1600 ml./24hr.
0.001
0.60-1.60 1/24 h
Table 6. Hematology*
Normal Values
Test
Present Units
Factor
SI Units
Platelet count
150,000-400,000/Atl.
106
0.15-0.40 x 10"71
Reticulocyte count
0.5-1.5%
25,000-75,000 cells//xl.
o.or
6
0.005-0.015
2 5 - 7 5 x 109/1
<15 mm./hr.
<20 mm./hr.
1
< 1 5 mm/li
< 2 0 mm/h
Sedimentation rate (ESR)
Men
Under 50 yr.
Over 50 yr.
Women
Under 50 yr.
Over 50 yr.
Complete blood count (CBC)
Hematocrit
Male
Female
Hemoglobin
Male
Female
Erythrocyte count
Male
Female
Leukocyte count
Erythrocyte indices
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
(MCH)
Segmented neutrophils
Bands
< 2 0 mm/h
< 3 0 mm/h
< 2 0 mm./hr.
< 3 0 mm./hr.
40-54%
38-47%
0.01 e
0.40-0.54
0.38-0.47
13.5-18.0 gm./dl.
12.0-16.0 gm./dl.
0.155"
2.09-2.79 mmol/1
1.86-2.48 mmol/1
4.6-6.2 x 10%il.
4.2-5.4 x l06//il4,500-11,000//ul.
106
4.6-6.2 x 1012/1
4.2-5.4 x 10'Vl
4.5-11.0 x 109/1
106
8 2 - 9 8 cu. microns
2 7 - 3 1 pg.
32-36%
Mean
Leukocyte differential
10
8 2 - 9 8 fl
0.0155"
0.0 l e
%
Range of
absolute counts
56
3.0
1,800-7,000/^1.
0-700/^1.
106
106
0.42-0.48 fmol
0.32-0.36
Mean
fraction'"
Range of
absolute count
0.56
0.03
1.8-7.0 x 109/1
0-0.7 x 10"/1
16
A.J.C.P.—Vol. 65
LEHMANN
Table 6. (Continued)
Normal Values
Test
Factor
Present Units
Eosinophils
Basophils
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
0-450//il.
0-200//il.
1000-4,800/jul.
0-800//xl.
2.7
0.3
34
4
SI Units
10"
106
10"
10"
0.027
0.003
0.34
0.04
0-0.45 x 109/1
0-0.2 X 109/1
1.0-4.8 x 109/1
0-0.8 x 109/1
Blood volume
Male
Female
69 ml./kg.
65 ml./kg.
0.001
0.069 1/kg
0.065 1/kg
Plasma volume
Male
Female
39 ml./kg.
40 ml ./kg.
0.001
0.039 1/kg
0.040 1/kg
1-6 min.
1-3 min.
50% the original mass in 2 h r .
1
1
0.01 c
1-6 min
1-3 min
0.5 the ori|jinal mass in 2 h
6 0 - 7 0 sec.
1
60-70s
3 5 - 5 0 sec.
12-14 sec.
1
1
35-50 s
12-14 s
Coagulation tests:
Bleeding time (Ivy)
Bleeding time (Duke)
Clot retraction
Partial thromboplastin time
(PTT)
Partial thromboplastin time,
kaolin activated
Prothrombin time
Table 7. Miscellaneous
Normal Values
Test
Bilirubin
Creatinine
Estriol
Material
Present Units
Factor
SI Units
Amniotic fluid
Early gestation
Term
<0.075 mg./dl.
<0.025 mg./dl.
17.1
<1.28*imol/l
<0.43 nmol/1
Amniotic fluid
Early gestation
Term
0.8-1.1 mg./dl.
1.8-4.0 mg./dl.
88.4
7 1 - 9 7 fi.mol/1
159-354 /*mol/l
Amniotic fluid
Early gestation
Term
< 10 Mg./dl.
> 6 0 ftgVdl.
0.035
<0.35 /umol/1
>2.10 ^mol/l
* Normal ranges taken by permission from Clinical Diagnosis by
Laboratory Methods, 15th edition, Eds. I. Davidson and J. B. Henry, W. B.
Saunders Co., Philadelphia, 1974.
n
Based on a molecular weight for albumin of 65,000.
b
1 Sibley Lehninger unit = 0.74 ml.U.
e
1 Somogyi unit = 0.185 l.U.
d
1 mm. H g = 0.133 kPa.
e
Percentages are expressed as number fractions, a dimensionless
quantity given by: the number of defined particles constituting the
specified component divided by the total number of defined particles in
the system.
'Factor based on a molecular weight of ceruloplasmin of 151,000.
•Units based on hydrogen ion concentration.
h
Factor based on the molecular weight of glycerol, 92.11.
'Factor based on a molecular weight for fibrinogen of 341,000.
1
Factor based on a molecular weight for growth hormone of 21,500.
k
Factor based on a molecular weight for hemoglobin of 64,500.
1
Factor based on the molecular weight of Cortisol, 362.47.
m
1 Wolfson Williams Ashman unit = 0.0167 ml.U.
"Factor based on die molecular weight of dehydroepiandrosterone,
289.44.
0
1 Wacker unit = 0.48 I.U./l.
1 Wroblewski unit = 0.48 I.U./l.
p
1 Goldbarg Rutenberg unit = 0.24 mI.U./ml.
Q
1 Cherry Crandall unit = 278 ml.U./ml.
r
Factor based on a molecular weight of phospholipids of 774.25
calculated from the phosphorus content of phospholipids of 4%.
s
1 Bodansky unit = 0.54 l.U.
1 King-Armstrong unit = 0.71 l.U.
1 Bessey-Lowry unit = 16.67 l.U.
1 Shinowara Jones Reinhardt unit = 0.54 l.U.
1
1 Karmen unit/ml = 0.48 ml.U./ml.
"Factor based on the molecular weight of cysteine, 121.16.
"Factor based on an effective molecular weight for estrogens of
278.55, calculated from the molecular weights of estrone, estradiol and
estriol in the ratio 2:1:2.
w
All percentages are multiplied by 0.01 e to give mean fraction.
January 1976
NORMAL VALUES IN Si UNITS
17
Table 7. (Continued)
Normal Values
Test
Uric acid
Material
Present Units
Factor
SI Units
Amniotic fluid
Early gestation
Term
3.72 ± 0.96 mg./dl.
9.90 ± 2.23 mgVdl.
0.059
0.22 ± 0.06 mmol/1
0.58 ± 0.13 mmol/1
Calcium
Spinal fluid
2.1-2.9 mEq./l.
0.5
1.05-1.45 mmol/1
Chloride
Spinal fluid
118-132 mEq./l.
1
118-132 mmol/1
Glucose
Spinal fluid
4 5 - 7 5 mgVdl.
0.055
2.47-4.12 mmol/1
Spinal fluid
1 5 - 4 5 mg./dl.
10-30 mg./dl.
6-16mg./dl.
10
0.154 a
10
150-450 mg/1
1.5-4.6 /imol/1
6 0 - 1 6 0 mg/1
Spinal fluid
4.1
62.4
5.3
8.2
12.8
7.2
0.01 e
0.041
0.624
0.053
0.082
0.128
0.072
Chloride
Sweat
4 - 6 0 mEq./l.
1
4 - 6 0 mmol/1
Sodium
Sweat
10-80 mEq./l.
1
1 0 - 8 0 mmol/1
Fat, total
Feces, 72 hr.
< 5 gm./24 hr.
Urobilinogen
Feces, 24 hr.
4 0 - 2 0 0 mg./24hr.
8 0 - 2 8 0 Ehrlich
units/24 hr.
Protein
Total
Albumin
Globulin
Protein electrophoresis
Pre-albumin
Albumin
Alpha-1 globulin
Alpha-2 globulin
Beta globulin
Gamma globulin
±
±
±
±
±
±
1.2%
5.6%
1.2%
2.0%
2.0%
1.1%
± 0.012
± 0.056
±0.012
± 0.020
± 0.020
± 0.011
of
of
of
of
of
of
total
total
total
total
total
total
protein
protein
protein
protein
protein
protein
< 5 g/24 h
0.00169
0.068-0.340 mmol/24 h
8 0 - 2 8 0 Ehrlich units/24 h
(See foutnotcs on facing page.)
ume instead of the cubic meter (1 liter = 1
dm 3 ). The liter is preferred and recommended because of its widespread use, 20d
because the symbol "1" is easier to write
than "dm 3 ," and because the usual prefixes can be more easily related to the liter
than to the cubic decimeter. 10 This concept has been endorsed by the International Committee of Weights and Measures 21 and the international organizations
in clinical chemistry, hematology and
pathology. 13
In Recommendation 1966,6 Dybkaer and
Jorgensen suggested an eighth basic quantity, the katal, to define the catalytic
amount of an enzyme. This unit has now
been accepted for enzymatic activity by
the Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature of IUPAC and the International
Union of Biochemistry. 9 It is defined as
the catalytic amount of any catalyst (in-
cluding any enzyme) that catalyzes a reaction rate of one mole per second in an
assay system. The reaction conditions are
eliminated from the definition. T h e
hoped for standardization of enzymatic
activities with the introduction of the
International Unit in 1964 8 did not occur,
as manifested by the continued use to the
present time of many enzymatic units, and
some doubts have been expressed as to
whether the katal will achieve this objective.3
Normal Values in SI Units
In Tables 4 - 7 , the present normal
ranges for many of the constituents of
blood, urine and other body fluids have
been converted to normal ranges in SI
units. T h e following guidelines, based on
Recommendation 1973 of UIPAC and
IFCC, 16 were adhered to.
18
LEHMANN
(1) Only normal values of quantitative
measurements have been converted to SI
units. The chemical names have not been
changed, e.g., " u r e a " has not been
changed to "carbamide."
(2) Factors were calculated on the basis
of molecular weights obtained from
atomic weights for atoms, corrected to
conform to the 1963 values of the Commission on Atomic Weights.
(3) T h e liter is used as the base unit for
volume.
(4) T h e factors were determined to
make the SI unit a convenient number—
i.e., between 0.001 and 1000. No attempt
has been made to correlate the normal
range in SI units with the clinical relevance of the significant figures.
(5) Where molecular weights are not
known, the values are expressed as mass
or mass per liter.
(6) Ezymatic units have been converted
to katal/liter (1 I.U. = 16.7 nkat.)
(7) Quantities of a relative nature, e.g.,
LDH isoenzymes, are given as fractions of
the total.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
References
1. American Medical Association, House of Delegates Resolution No. 32, J u n e 1974.
2. Baron DN, Broughton PMG, Cohen M, et al:
T h e use of SI units in reporting results
obtained in hospital laboratories. J Clin Pathol
27:590-597, 1974
3. Beeler MF: T h e metric system and clinical
chemistry. Am J Clin Pathol 59:277-281,
1973
4. Br Med J, November 30, 1974, p 490
5. Chem Eng News, August 11, 1975, p 15
6. Dybkaer R, Jorgensen K: Quantities and Units
in Clinical Chemistry, Including Recommendation 1966 of the Commission on Clinical
Chemistry of the International Union of Pure
and Applied Chemistry and of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry. Copenhagen, Munksgaard, 1967
7. Dybkaer R: International recommendations for
nomenclature of quantities and units in clinical chemistry. Am J Clin Pathol 52:637-643,
1969
8. Enzyme Nomenclature, Recommendations 1964
of the International Union of Pure and
Applied Chemistry and the International
Union of Biochemistry. New York, Elsevier,
1965
9. Enzyme Nomenclature, Recommendations 1972
of the International Union of Pure and
Applied Chemistry and the International
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19.
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25.
AJ.CP.-VoL
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and Applied Chemistry, 1972
Information Bulletin. Appendices on Tentative
Nomenclature, Symbols, Units and Standards
— Number 21. List of Quantities in Clinical
Chemistry. International Union of Pure and
Applied Chemistry, 1972
Ingelfinger FJ: Metrication on the crawl. N Engl
J Med 292:805-806, 1975
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19:135, 1973
International Standards Organization 1972: SI
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dieir Multiples and of Certain Other Units.
International Standards IS 1000-1973
International Union of Pure and Applied
Chemistry: (Commission I, 1: Physicochemical
Symbols, Terminology and Units), 1970.
Manual of Symbols and Terminology for
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A p p l C h e m 21:1-44, 1970
International Union of Pure and Applied
Chemistry and International Federation of
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Clinical Chemistry Recommendation 1973.
Pure Appl Chem 37:519-546, 1974
Internatiqpal Union of Pure and Applied
Chemistry and International Federation of
Clinical Chemistry: List of Quantities in Clinical Chemistry Recommendation 1973. Pure
Appl Chem 37:549-572, 1974
McGlashan ML: Internationally recommended
names and symbols for physicochemical quantities and units. Annu Rev Phys Chem
24:51-76, 1973
Mears DW, Young DS: Measurement and standard reference materials in clinical chemistry.
Am J Clin Pathol 50:411-418, 1968
National Bureau of Standards: Nat Bur Stand
Tech News Bull (a) 48:61, 1964. (b) 52:121,
1968. (c) 55:18, 1971. (d), J Chem Educ
48:569-572, 1971
National Physical Laboratory: SI, T h e International System of Units. London, Her Majesty's
Stationery Office, 1970
Royal College of Pathologists Working Party:
T h e use of SI units in reporting results in
pathology. J Clin Pathol 23:818-819, 1970
T h e Royal College of Pathologists of Australia
and The Australian Association of Clinical
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no. 14, 1973
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