Term | Definition |
Albumin aminotransferase (ALT) | Detects liver disease
Reference range: 45 U/L or less |
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) | Assists in dx of liver & bone disease
Reference range: 25-140 U/L |
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) | Detects tissue damage
Reference range: 40 U/L or less |
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) | Screens for renal disease, especially glomerular functioning
Reference range: 7-25 mg/dl |
Calcium (Ca) | To assess parathyroid functioning & calcium metabolism & evaluate malignancies
Reference range: 8.5 - 10.8 mg/dl |
Chloride (Cl) | Assists in diagnosing disorders of acid-base & water balance
Reference range: 96 - 109 mmol/L |
Cholesterol (Chol) | To screen for atherosclerosis related to coronary artery disease; secondary aid in study of thyroid & liver functioning
Reference range: (desirable)Less than 200 mg/dl |
Low Density Lipoprotein (LD) | Complex molecules found in cholesterol; picks up cholesterol from ingested fats & the liver, delivers to blood vessels & muscles; aka bad cholesterol
Reference range: (optimal)less than 100 mg/dl |
High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) | Complex molecule found in cholesterol; removes excess cholesterol from the cells & carries it to the liver to be excreted; aka good cholesterol
Reference range: (optimal) 60 mg/dl or greater |
Creatinine (Creat) | Screening test of renal functioning
Reference range: 0.6-1.5 mg/dl |
Globulin (Glob) | To identify abnormalities in rate of protein synthesis & removal
Reference range: 2-3.4 g/dl |
Glucose | To detect disorders of glucose metabolism
Reference range: varies |
Fasting blood glucose (FBG) or Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) | Blood sugar done with patient having being NPO for 12 hours prior to test.
Reference ranges:
Normal 70-99 mg/dL |
2 hour postprndial blood sugar (2-hr PPBS) | Often performed on patients with DM to eval progress & regulate tx OR as routine screening to detect DM. The patient fasts after midnight; breakfast contains 100 g of carbs OR drinks a glucose solution.
Reference range:
Less than 140 mg/dL |
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) | Provides more detailed info about the ability of the body to metabolize blucose by assessing the insulin response to a glucose load.
Reference range: 139 mg/dL or less |
Lactate dehydrogenase (LD) | Assists in confirming myocardial or pulmonary infarction; also used in differential dx of MD and pernicious anemia
Reference range: 240 UL or less |
Phosphorus (P) | Assists in proper eval & interpretation of calcium levels; used to detect disorders of endocrine system, bone diseases & kidney function
Reference range: 2.5-4.5 mg/dL |
Potassium (K) | To dx disorders or acid-base & water balance in the body
Reference range: 3.5-5.3 mmol/L |
Sodium (Na) | To detect changes in water & salt balance in the body
Reference range: 135-147 mmol?l |
Total bilirubin (TB) | To evaluate liver functioning & hemolytic anemia
Reference range: 0.2-1.3 mg/dL |
Total protein (TP) | Screens for diseases that alter protein balance & assesses state of body hydration
Reference range: 4.5-12 ug/dL |
Triglycerides (Trig) | To evaluate patients with suspected atherosclerosis
Reference range: Less than 150 mg/dL |
Uric acid (UA) | To evaluate renal failure, gout, & leukemia
Reference range: Male 3.9-9 mg/dl
Female 2.2-7.7 mg/dL |