Lab Values

• WBC are to fight infection

  • normal = 5-10
• WBC

  • leukocytosis > 11
  • fever, lethargic, dizzy, bruising
  • due to surgery, infection, trauma, pain, medications
• WBC

  • leukopenia <4
  • anemia, weakness, fatigue, fever, HA
  • due to infections or chemo
• WBC

  • neutropenia < 1.5
  • fever, mouth sores, skin sores, sx of pneumonia
  • Due to infection or chemo
• Platelets are for clotting

  • 140-400
• Platelets

  • thrombocytosis >450
  • risk for clot because blood is too thick
  • weakness, HA, dizzy, chest pain, tingling in hands/feet
• Platelets

  • Thrombocytopenia <150
  • blood is too thin, fall risk
  • Petechiae, fatigue, jaundice, risk for bleeding
  • Due to infection, chemo
• Hemoglobin is a protein in RBC that delivers O2 to your tissues

  • Males: 14-17
  • Females: 12-16
• Hb

  • polycythemia
  • dizzy, seizures, angina, TIA, orthostatic hypotension
  • Due to heart disease, dehydration
  • HCV >20 can lead to clogging of capillaries
  • LCV <5-7 can lead to heart failure or death
• Hb

  • anemia
  • decreased endurance and activity tolerance, pallor, tachycardia
  • due to hemorrhage, sickle cell anemia
• Hematocrit measures the % of RBC in your body

  • Males 42-52%
  • Females 37-47%
• Hct

  • Polycythemia
  • fever, HA, dizziness, weakness, fatigue, easily bruised
  • Due to burns, eclampsia, severe dehydration, living in higher altitudes
  • Low CV <15-20% = cardiac arrest or death
  • High CV >60% = spontaneous blood clotting
• Hct

  • anemia
  • pale skin, HA, dizzy, chest pain, SOB, cold hands/feet
  • Due to leukemia, hyperthyroidism, RA, hemorrhage
• Sodium is the primary determinant of extracellular fluid volume and allows for conduction of nerve impulses

  • 134-142
• What is part of the electrolyte panel?

  sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium
• Sodium

  • hypernatremia > 145
  • irritable, agitated, seizure, hypotension, tachycardia, decreased urinary output
  • due to increased sodium intake, CHF, Cushing's disease
• Sodium

  • hyponatremia <130
  • HA, lethargic, decreased reflexes, seizures, orthostatic hypotension, pitting edema
  • Due to diuretic use, GI issue, burns
• Potassium is important for function of excitable cells such as nerves, muscles, and heart

  • 3.7-5.1
  • supports normal BP
• Potassium

  • hyperkalemia >5.5
  • muscle weakness, paresthesia, bradycardia, cardiac arrest
  • due to renal failure, blood transfusion
• Potassium

  • hypokalemia <3.5
  • Extremity weakness, decreased reflexes, paresthesia, leg cramps, cardiac arrest, hypotension, constipation
  • Due to diarrhea, cushings, malnutrition
• Calcium is important for bone/tooth formation, cell division and growth, muscle contraction, normal heart function

  • 99% stored in the bones
• Calcium is regulated by parathyroid hormone and calcitonin
• Calcium

  • hypercalcemia
  • lethargic, muscle weakness, constipation, decreased reflexes
  • Due to bone destruction (tumor), fx, immobilization
• Calcium

  • hypocalcemia
  • anxiety, confusion, seizure, fatigue, numbness/tingling, increased reflexes, muscle cramps
  • due to poor dietary intake, limited absorption, pancreatitis
• Chloride helps maintain BP, plays a role in digestion, important for acid-base balance

  • 98-108
• Chloride

  • hyperchloremia
  • lethargic, decreased LOC, weakness, edema, HTN, tachycardia
  • due to high-salt, low-water diet
• Chloride

  • hypochloremia
  • agitated, irritable, increased reflexes, cramping
  • due to low salt diet, water intoxication, excessive vomiting or diarrhea
• Phosphate is needed for bone and tooth formation

  • as calcium increases, phosphate decreases
  • 2.3-4.1
• Phosphate

  • hyperphosphatemia
  • lethargic, muscle weakness, decreased reflexes, constipation
  • due to bone destruction (tumor), immobilization, fx
• Phosphate

  • hypophosphatemia
  • anxiety, confusion, seizure, fatigue, numbness/tingling, increased reflexes, muscle cramps
  • due to poor dietary intake, limited GI absorption
• Magnesium is needed for muscles, nerves and heart to function properly

  • helps control BP and blood glucose, bone formation, immune function, and fluid balance
  • consumed in nuts, grains, leafy greens
  • 1.2-1.9
• Magnesium

  • hypermagnesemia
  • drowsy, lethargic, decreased reflexes, hypotension
  • due to dehydration, leukemia, renal failure
• Magnesium

  • hypomagnesemia
  • increased reflexes, tremors, spasticity, seizures, nystagmus, cardiac issues
  • due to eating disorders, medications
• BUN = blood urea nitrogen, a measure of the amount of nitrogen in the blood

  • if kidneys are not functioning properly, the BUN will be increased
  • part of the kidney panel
• BUN norms = 6-25
• Increased BUN

  • HTN, fatigue, itchy/dry skin, decreased cognition, bone pain
  • due to high-protein diet, renal failure, fever
• Serum creatinine is a waste product that comes from muscles

  • part of the kidney panel
  • Males 0.7-1.3
  • Females 0.4-1.1
• Serum Creatinine increased

  • reduced urine output
  • back pain
  • dark urine
  • HA
  • Due to renal disease, muscular dystrophy, dehydration
• Decreased serum creatinine

  • fatigue
  • Due to age, low muscle mass
• Glucose measures blood glucose at the time the test is administered

  • 70-100