385

APPENDIX B
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 Conventional Units Conversion Factor SI Units

Acid phosphatase
Male 2–12 units/L 16.7 33–200 nkat/L
Female 0.3–9.2 units/L 16.7 5–154 nkat/L
Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) 25–40 s
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) 15–80 pg/mL or ng/L 0.2202 3.3–17.6 pmol/L
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT, SGPT) 7–53 IU/L 0.01667 0.12–0.88 μkat/L
Albumin 3.5–5.0 g/dL 10 35–50 g/L
Albumin:creatinine ratio (urine)
Normal Less than 30 mg/g creatinine
Microalbuminuria 30–300 mg/g creatinine
Proteinuria Greater than 300 mg/g creatinine
or or
Normal
Male Less than 2.0 mg/mmol creatinine
Female Less than 2.8 mg/mmol creatinine
Microalbuminuria
Male 2.0–20 mg/mmol creatinine
Female 2.8–28 mg/mmol creatinine
Proteinuria
Male Greater than 20 mg/mmol creatinine
Female Greater than 28 mg/mmol creatinine
Aldosterone
Supine Less than 16 ng/dL 27.7 Less than 444 pmol/L
Upright Less than 31 ng/dL 27.7 Less than 860 pmol/L
Alkaline phosphatase
10–15 years 130–550 IU/L 0.01667 2.17–9.17 μkat/L
16–20 years 70–260 IU/L 0.01667 1.17–4.33 μkat/L
Greater than 20 years 38–126 IU/L 0.01667 0.13–2.10 μkat/L
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) Less than 15 ng/mL 1 Less than 15 mcg/L
Alpha1-antitrypsin 80–200 mg/dL 0.01 0.8–2.0 g/L
Amikacin, therapeutic 15–30 mg/L peak 1.71 25.6–51.3 μmol/L peak
Less than or equal to 8 mg/L trough Less than or equal to 13.7 μmol/L trough
Amitriptyline 80–200 ng/mL or mcg/L 3.4 272–680 nmol/L
Ammonia (plasma) 15.33–56.20 mcg NH3/dL 0.5872 9–33 μmol NH3/L
Amylase 25–115 IU/L 0.01667 0.42–1.92 μkat/L
Androstenedione 50–250 ng/dL 0.0349 1.7–8.7 nmol/L
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 15–70 units/L 16.67 250–1,167 nkat/L
Anion gap 7–16 mEq/L 1 7–16 mmol/L
Anti–double-stranded DNA (anti-ds DNA) Negative
Anti-HAV Negative
Anti-HBc Negative
Anti-HBs Negative
Anti-HCV Negative
Anti–Sm antibody Negative
Antinuclear antibody (ANA) Negative
Apolipoprotein A-1
Male 95–175 mg/dL 0.01 0.95–1.75 g/L
Female 100–200 mg/dL 0.01 1.0–2.0 g/L
(continued)

Copyright © 2009 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Click here for terms of use.
 386

Laboratory Conventional Units Conversion Factor SI Units

APPENDIX B

Apolipoprotein B
Male 50–110 mg/dL 0.01 0.5–1.10 g/L
Female 50–105 mg/dL 0.01 0.5–1.05 g/L
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST, SGOT) 11–47 IU/L 0.01667 0.18–0.78 μkat/L
Beta2-microglobulin Less than 0.2 mg/dL 10 2 mg/L
Bicarbonate 22–26 mEq/L 1 22–26 mmol/L
Bilirubin
Total 0.3–1.1 mg/dL 17.1 5.13–18.80 μmol/L
Direct 0–0.3 mg/dL 17.1 0–5.1 μmol/L
Common Laboratory Tests

Indirect 0.1–1.0 mg/dL 17.1 1.71–17.1 μmol/L

Bleeding time 3–7 min
Blood gases (arterial)
pH 7.35–7.45 1 7.35–7.45
Po2 80–105 mm Hg 0.133 10.6–14.0 kPa
Pco2 35–45 mm Hg 0.133 4.7–6.0 kPa
HCO3 22–26 mEq/L 1 22–26 mmol/L
O2 saturation Greater than or equal to 95% 0.01 0.95
Blood urea nitrogen 8–25 mg/dL 0.357 2.9–8.9 mmol/L
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) 0–99 pg/mL 1 0–99 ng/L
BUN-to-creatinine ratio 10:1 to 20:1
C-peptide 0.51–2.70 ng/mL 330 170–900 pmol/L or
0.33 0.172–0.900 nmol/L
C-reactive protein Less than 0.8 mg/dL 10 Less than 8 mg/L
CA-125 Less than 35 units/mL 1 Less than 35 kilounits/L
CA 15-3 Less than 30 units/mL 1 Less than 30 kilounits/L
CA 19-9 Less than 37 units/mL 1 Less than 37 kilounits/L
CA 27-29 Less than 38 units/mL 1 Less than 38 kilounits/L
Calcium
Total 8.6–10.3 mg/dL 0.25 2.15–2.58 mmol/L
4.3–5.16 mEq/L 0.50 2.15–2.58 mmol/L
Ionized 4.5–5.1 mg/dL 0.25 1.13–1.28 mmol/L
2.26–2.56 mEq/L 0.50 1.13–1.28 mmol/L
Carbamazepine, therapeutic 4–12 mg/L 4.23 17–51 μmol/L
Carboxyhemoglobin (nonsmoker) Less than 2% 0.01 Less than 0.02
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
Nonsmoker Less than 2.5 ng/mL 1 Less than 2.5 mcg/L
Smoker Less than 5 ng/mL Less than 5 mcg/L
Cardiac troponin I (see troponin I) Variable ng/mL 1 Variable mcg/L
CD4 lymphocyte count 31–61% of total lymphocytes
CD8 lymphocyte count 18–39% of total lymphocytes
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Pressure 75–175 mm H2O
Glucose 40–70 mg/dL 0.0555 2.2–3.9 mmol/L
Protein 15–45 mg/dL 0.01 0.15–0.45 g/L
WBC Less than 10/mm3
Ceruloplasmin 18–45 mg/dL 10 180–450 mg/L
0.063 1.1–2.8 μmol/L
Chloride 97–110 mEq/L 1 97–110 mmol/L
Cholesterol
Desirable Less than 200 mg/dL 0.0259 Less than 5.18 mmol/L
Borderline high 200–239 mg/dL 0.0259 5.18–6.19 mmol/L
High Greater than or equal to 240 mg/dL 0.0259 Greater than or equal to 6.2 mmol/L
Chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) Less than 5 milliunits/mL 1 Less than 5 units/L
Clozapine Minimum trough 300–350 ng/mL 3.06 918–1,071 nmol/L
or mcg/L
CO2 content 22–30 mEq/L 1 22–30 mmol/L
Complement component 3 (C3) 70–160 mg/dL 0.01 0.7–1.6 g/L
Complement component 4 (C4) 20–40 mg/dL 0.01 0.2–0.4 g/L
Copper 70–150 mcg/dL 0.157 11–24 μmol/L
Cortisol (fasting, morning) 5–25 mcg/dL 27.6 138–690 nmol/L
Cortisol (free, urinary) 10–100 mcg/day 2.76 28–276 nmol/day
Creatine kinase
Male 30–200 IU/L 0.01667 0.50–3.33 μkat/L
Female 20–170 IU/L 0.01667 0.33–2.83 μkat/L
MB fraction 0–7 IU/L 0.01667 0.0–0.12 μkat/L
Creatinine clearance (CLcr) (urine) 85–135 mL/min/1.73 m2 0.00963 0.82–1.3 mL/s/m2
(continued)
 387

Laboratory Conventional Units Conversion Factor SI Units

APPENDIX B
Creatinine
Male 4–20 years 0.2–1.0 mg/dL 88.4 18–88 μmol/L
Female 4–20 years 0.2–1.0 mg/dL 88.4 18–88 μmol/L
Male (adults) 0.7–1.3 mg/dL 88.4 62–115 μmol/L
Female (adults) 0.6–1.1 mg/dL 88.4 53–97 μmol/L
Cyclosporine
Renal transplant 100–300 ng/mL or mcg/L 0.832 83–250 nmol/L
Cardiac, liver, or pancreatic transplant 200–350 ng/mL or mcg/L 0.832 166–291 nmol/L
Cryptococcal antigen Negative

Common Laboratory Tests

D-dimers Less than 250 ng/mL 1 Less than 250 mcg/L
Desipramine 75–300 ng/mL or mcg/L 3.75 281–1,125 mmol/L
Dexamethasone suppression test (DST) (overnight) 8:00 AM cortisol less than 5 mcg/dL 0.0276 Less than 0.14 μmol/L
DHEAS
Male 170–670 mcg/dL 0.0271 4.6–18.2 μmol/L
Female
Premenopausal 50–540 mcg/dL 0.0271 1.4–14.7 μmol/L
Postmenopausal 30–260 mcg/dL 0.0271 0.8–7.1 μmol/L
Digoxin, therapeutic 0.5–1.0 ng/mL or mcg/L 1.28 0.6–1.3 nmol/L
Erythrocyte count (blood) See under
red blood cell count
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
Westergren
Male 0–20 mm/hour
Female 0–30 mm/hour
Wintrobe
Male 0–9 mm/hour
Female 0–15 mm/hour
Erythropoietin 2–25 mIU/mL 1 2–25 IU/L
Estradiol
Male 10–36 pg/mL 3.67 37–132 pmol/L
Female 34–170 pg/mL 3.67 125–624 pmol/L
Ethanol, legal intoxication Greater than or equal to 50–100 mg/dL 0.217 10.9–21.7 mmol/L
Greater than or equal to 0.05–0.1% 217
Ethosuccimide, therapeutic 40–100 mg/L or mcg/mL 7.08 283–708 μmol/L
Factor VIII or factor IX
Severe hemophilia Less than 1 IU/dL 0.01 Less than 0.01 units/mL
Moderate hemophilia 1–5 IU/dL 0.01 0.01–0.05 units/mL
Mild hemophilia Greater than 5 IU/dL 0.01 Greater than 0.05 units/mL
Usual adult levels 60–140 IU/dL 0.01 0.60–1.40 units/mL
Ferritin
Male 20–250 ng/mL 1 20–250 mcg/L
Female 10–150 ng/mL 1 10–150 mcg/L
Fibrin degradation products (FDP) 2–10 mg/L
Fibrinogen 200–400 mg/dL 0.01 2.0–4.0 g/L
Folate (plasma) 3.1–12.4 ng/mL 2.266 7.0–28.1 nmol/L
Folic acid (RBC) 125–600 ng/mL 2.266 283–1,360 nmol/L
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
Male 1–7 mIU/mL 1 1–7 IU/L
Female
Follicular phase 1–9 mIU/mL 1 1–9 IU/L
Midcycle 6–26 mIU/mL 1 6–26 IU/L
Luteal phase 1–9 mIU/mL 1 1–9 IU/L
Postmenopausal 30–118 mIU/mL 1 30–118 IU/L
Free thyroxine index (FT4I) 6.5–12.5
Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) 0–30 IU/L 0.01667 0–0.5 μkat/L
Gastrin (fasting) 0–130 pg/mL 1 0–130 ng/L
Gentamicin, therapeutic 4–10 mg/L peak 2.09 8.4–21.0 μmol/L peak
Less than or equal to 2 mg/L trough Less than or equal to 4.2 μmol/L trough
Globulin 2.3–3.5 g/dL 10 23–35 g/L
Glucose (fasting, plasma) 65–109 mg/dL 0.0555 3.6–6.0 mmol/L
Glucose, two hour postprandial blood (PPBG) Less than 140 mg/dL 0.0555 Less than 7.8 mmol/L
Granulocyte count 1.8–6.6 × 103/μL 106 1.8–6.6 × 109/L
Growth hormone (fasting)
Male Less than 5 ng/mL 1 Less than 5 mcg/L
Female Less than 10 ng/mL 1 Less than 10 mcg/L
Haptoglobin 60–270 mg/dL 0.01 0.6–2.7 g/L
HBeAg Negative
(continued)
 388

Laboratory Conventional Units Conversion Factor SI Units

APPENDIX B

HbsAg Negative
HBV DNA Negative
Hematocrit
Male 40.7–50.3% 0.01 0.407–0.503
Female 36.1–44.3% 0.01 0.361–0.443
Hemoglobin (blood)
Male 13.8–17.2 g/dL 10 138–172 g/L
Alternate SI: 0.62 8.56–10.67 mmol/L
Female 12.1–15.1 g/dL 10 121–151 g/L
Common Laboratory Tests

Alternate SI: 0.62 7.5–9.36 mmol/L

Hemoglobin A1C 4.0–6.0% 0.01 0.04–0.06
Heparin
Via protamine titration method 0.2–0.4 mcg/mL
Via anti-factor Xa assay 0.3–0.7 mcg/mL
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol Greater than 35 mg/dL 0.0259 Greater than 0.91 mmol/L
Homocysteine 3.3–10.4 μmol/L
Ibuprofen
Therapeutic 10–50 mcg/mL 4.85 49–243 μmol/L
Toxic 100–700 mcg/mL or more 4.85 485–3,395 μmol/L or more
Imipramine, therapeutic 100–300 ng/mL or mcg/L 3.57 357–1071 nmol/L
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) 85–385 mg/dL 0.01 0.85–3.85 g/L
Immunoglobulin G (IgG) 565–1,765 mg/dL 0.01 5.65–17.65 g/L
Immunoglobulin M (IgM) 53–375 mg/dL 0.01 0.53–3.75 g/L
Insulin (fasting) 2–20 microunits/mL or milliunits/L 7.175 14.35–143.5 pmol/L
International normalized ratio (INR), therapeutic 2.0–3.0 (2.5–3.5 for some indications)
Iron
Male 45–160 mcg/dL 0.179 8.1–31.3 μmol/L
Female 30–160 mcg/dL 0.179 5.4–31.3 μmol/L
Iron binding capacity (total) 220–420 mcg/dL 0.179 39.4–75.2 μmol/L
Iron saturation 15–50% 0.01 0.15–0.50
Lactate (plasma) 0.7–2.1 mEq/L 1 0.7–2.1 mmol/L
6.3–18.9 mg/dL 0.111
Lactate dehydrogenase 100–250 IU/L 0.01667 1.67–4.17 μkat/L
Lead Less than 25 mcg/dL 0.0483 Less than 1.21 μmol/L
Leukocyte count 3.8–9.8 × 103/μL 106 3.8–9.8 × 109/L
Lidocaine, therapeutic 1.5–6.0 mcg/mL or mg/L 4.27 6.4–25.6 μmol/L
Lipase Less than 100 IU/L 0.01667 1.7 μkat/L
Lithium, therapeutic 0.5–1.25 mEq/L 1 0.5–1.25 mmol/L
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
Desirable Less than 130 mg/dL 0.0259 Less than 3.36 mmol/L
Borderline high risk 130–159 mg/dL 0.0259 3.36–4.11 mmol/L
High risk Greater than or equal to 160 mg/dL 0.0259 Greater than or equal to 4.13 mmol/L
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Male 1–8 milliunits/mL 1 1–8 units/L
Female
Follicular phase 1–12 milliunits/mL 1 1–12 units/L
Midcycle 16–104 milliunits/mL 1 16–104 units/L
Luteal phase 1–12 milliunits/mL 1 1–12 units/L
Postmenopausal 16–66 milliunits/mL 1 16–66 units/L
Lymphocyte count 1.2–3.3 × 103/μL 106 1.2–3.3 × 109/L
Magnesium 1.3–2.2 mEq/L 0.5 0.65–1.10 mmol/L
1.58–2.68 mg/dL 0.411 0.65–1.10 mmol/L
Mean corpuscular volume 80.0–97.6 μm3 1 80.0–97.6 fL
Mononuclear cell count 0.2–0.7 × 103/μL 106 0.2–0.7 × 109/L
Nortriptyline, therapeutic 50–150 ng/mL or mcg/L 3.8 190–570 nmol/L
NT-ProBNP (see Pro-BNP)
Osmolality (serum) 275–300 mOsm/kg 1 275–300 mmol/kg
Osmolality (urine) 250–900 mOsm/kg 1 250–900 mmol/kg
Parathyroid hormone (PTH), intact 10–60 pg/mL or ng/L 0.107 1.1–6.4 pmol/L
Parathyroid hormone (PTH), N-terminal 8–24 pg/mL or ng/L
Parathyroid hormone (PTH), C-terminal 50–330 pg/mL or ng/L
Phenobarbital, therapeutic 15–40 mcg/mL or mg/L 4.31 65–172 μmol/L
Phenytoin, therapeutic 10–20 mcg/mL or mg/L 3.96 40–79 μmol/L
Phosphate 2.5–4.5 mg/dL 0.323 0.81–1.45 mmol/L
Platelet count 140–440 × 103/μL 106 140–440 × 109/L
Potassium (plasma) 3.3–4.9 mEq/L 1 3.3–4.9 μmol/L
Prealbumin (adult) 19.5–35.8 mg/dL 10 195–358 mg/L
Primidone, therapeutic 5–12 mcg/mL or mg/L 4.58 23–55 μmol/L
(continued)
 389

Laboratory Conventional Units Conversion Factor SI Units

APPENDIX B
ProBNP Less than 125 pg/mL or ng/L 0.118 Less than 14.75 pmol/L
Procainamide, therapeutic 4–10 mcg/mL or mg/L 4.23 17–42 μmol/L
Progesterone
Male 13–97 ng/dL 0.0318 0.4–3.1 nmol/L
Female
Follicular phase 15–70 ng/dL 0.5–2.2 nmol/L
Luteal phase 200–2,500 ng/dL 6.4–79.5 nmol/L
Prolactin Less than 20 ng/mL 1 Less than 20 mcg/L
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) Less than 4 ng/mL 1 Less than 4 mcg/L

Common Laboratory Tests

Protein, total 6.0–8.0 g/dL 10 60–80 g/L
Prothrombin time (PT) 10–12 sec
Quinidine, therapeutic 2–5 mcg/mL or mg/L 3.08 6.2–15.4 μmol/L
Radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) Less than 6% in 2 hours
Red blood cell (RBC) count (blood)
Male 4–6.2 × 106/μL 106 4–6.2 × 1012/L
Female 4–6.2 × 106/μL 106 4–6.2 × 1012/L
Pregnant
Trimester 1 4–5 × 106/μL 106 4–5 × 1012/L
Trimester 2 3.2–4.5 × 106/μL 106 3.2–4.5 × 1012/L
Trimester 3 3.0–4.9 × 106/μL 106 3.0–4.9 × 1012/L
Postpartum 3.2–5 × 106/μL 106 3.2–5.0 × 106/L
Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) 11.5–14.5% 0.01 0.115–0.145
Reticulocyte count
Male 0.5–1.5% of total RBC count 0.01 0.005–0.015
Female 0.5–2.5% of total RBC count 0.01 0.005–0.025
Retinol-binding protein (RBP) 2.7–7.6 mg/dL 10 27–76 mg/L
Rheumatoid factor (RF) titer Negative
Salicylate, therapeutic 150–300 mcg/mL or mg/L 0.00724 1.09–2.17 mmol/L
15–30 mg/dL 0.0724
Sodium 135–145 mEq/L 1 135–145 mmol/L
Tacrolimus
Renal transplant 6–12 ng/mL or mcg/L
Liver transplant 4–10 ng/mL or mcg/L
Pancreatic transplant 10–18 ng/mL or mcg/L
Bone marrow transplant 10–20 ng/mL or mcg/L
Testosterone (total)
Men 300–950 ng/dL 0.0347 10.4–33.0 nmol/L
Women 20–80 ng/dL 0.7–2.8 nmol/L
Testosterone (free)
Men 9–30 ng/dL 0.0347 0.31–1.04 nmol/L
Women 0.3–1.9 ng/dL 0.01–0.07 nmol/L
Theophylline
Therapeutic 5–15 mcg/mL or mg/L 5.55 28–83 μmol/L
Toxic 20 or more mcg/mL or mg/L 5.55 111 or more μmol/L
Thrombin time 20–24 sec
Thyroglobulin Less than 42 ng/mL 1 Less than 42 mcg/L
Thyroglobulin antibodies Negative
Thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) 1.2–2.5 mg/dL 10 12–25 mcg/L
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) 0.35–6.20 microunits/mL 1 0.35–6.20 milliunits/L
TSH receptor antibodies (TSH Rab) 0–1 unit/mL
Thyroxine (T4)
Total 4.5–12.0 mcg/dL 12.87 58–155 nmol/L
Free 0.7–1.9 ng/dL 12.87 9.0–24.5 pmol/L
Thyroxine index, free (FT4I) 6.5–12.5
TIBC See Iron-binding capacity (total)
Tobramycin, therapeutic 4–10 mcg/mL or mg/L peak 2.14 8.6–21.4 μmol/L
Less than or equal to 2 mcg/mL mg/L trough 2.14 Less than or equal to 4.28 μmol/L
Transferrin 200–430 mg/dL 0.01 2.0–4.3 g/L
Transferrin saturation 30–50% 0.01 0.30–0.50
Triglycerides (fasting) Less than 160 mg/dL 0.0113 Less than 1.8 mmol/L
Triiodothyronine (T3) 45–132 ng/dL 0.0154 0.91–2.70 nmol/L
Triiodothyronine (T3) resin uptake 25–35%
Troponin I Less than 0.6 ng/mL 1 Less than 0.6 μg/L
Uric acid 3–8 mg/dL 59.48 179–476 μmol/L
Urinalysis (urine)
pH 4.8–8.0
Specific gravity 1.005–1.030
(continued)
 390

Laboratory Conventional Units Conversion Factor SI Units

APPENDIX B

Protein Negative
Glucose Negative
Ketones Negative
RBC 1–2 per low-power field
WBC 3–4 per low-power field
Valproic acid, therapeutic 50–100 mcg/mL or mg/L 6.93 346–693 μmol/L
Vancomycin, therapeutic trough for CNS infections 20–40 mcg/mL or mg/L peak 0.690 14–28 μmol/L peak
5–20 mcg/mL or mg/L trough 0.690 3–14 μmol/L trough
15–20 mcg/mL or mg/L trough 0.690 10–14 μmol/L trough
Common Laboratory Tests

Vitamin A (retinol) 30–95 mcg/dL 0.0349 1.05–3.32 μmol/L

Vitamin B12 180–1,000 pg/mL 0.738 133–738 pmol/L
Vitamin D3, 1, 25-dihydroxy 20–76 pg/m 2.4 48–182 pmol/L
Vitamin D3, 25-hydroxy 10–50 ng/mL 2.496 25–125 nmol/L
Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) 0.5–2.0 mg/dL 23.22 12–46 μmol/L
WBC count 4–10 × 103/μL or 4–10 × 103/mm3 106 4–10 × 109/L
WBC differential (peripheral blood)
Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) 50–65%
Bands 0–5%
Eosinophils 0–3%
Basophils 1–3%
Lymphocytes 25–35%
Monocytes 2–6%
WBC differential (bone marrow)
Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) 3–11%
Bands 9–15%
Metamyelocytes 9–25%
Myelocytes 8–16%
Promyelocytes 1–8%
Myeloblasts 0–5%
Eosinophils 1–5%
Basophils 0–1%
Lymphocytes 11–23%
Monocytes 0–1%
Zinc 60–150 mcg/dL 0.153 9.2–23.0 μmol/L
This table was reprinted with permission from: Chisholm-Burns MA, Wells BG, Schwinghammer TL, et al. (eds). Pharmacotherapy Principles and Practice. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008.