This post is adapted for the Health & Medical Case Studies created by the Master of Medical Biotechnology program of the University of Windsor. This work licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 International License.
Laboratory Tests Reference Ranges
Complete Blood Count 1
RBC Tests 1 | Conventional units | SI units |
RBC | Men: 4.5-5.9 x 106/mcl
Women: 4.1-5.1 x 106/mcl |
Men: 4.5-5.9 x 1012/L
Women: 4.1-5.1 x 1012/L |
Hb | Men: 14-17.5 g/dL
Women: 12.3-15.3 g/dL |
Men: 140-175 g/L
Women: 123-153 g/L |
Hematocrit | Men: 41.5-50.4%
Women: 35.9-44.6% |
Men: 0.415-0.504 volume fraction
Women: 0.359-0.446 volume fraction |
MCV | 80-96 micrometer | 80-96 fL |
MCH | 27.5-33.2 pg | 27.5-33.2 pg |
MCHC | 33.4-35.5 g/dL | 334-355 g/L |
RBC Distribution Width (RDW, RDW-SD, RDW-CV) Not always reported | This indicates that RBC are uniform in size. | |
Reticulocyte count (Not always done) | 0.5-1.5% or 25-125 x 103/mcl |
0.005-0.015 number fraction or 25-125 x 109/L |
WBC Tests 1 | Conventional units | SI units |
WBC counts | 4,500-11,000 white blood cells per microliter (mcL) | 4.5-11.0 x 109 per liter (L) |
Absolute neutrophil count, % neutrophils (Neu, PMN, polys) | Percent (mean): 56%
Absolute count: 1800-7800 cells per microliter (mcL) |
Mean number fraction: 0.56
Absolute count: 1.8-7.8 x 109 per liter |
Absolute lymphocyte count, % lymphocytes (Lymph) | Percent (mean) 34%
Absolute count: 1000-4800 cells per microliter (mcL) |
-Mean number fraction: 0.34
-Absolute count: 1.0-4.8 x 109 per liter |
Absolute monocyte count, % monocytes (Mono) | Percent (mean) 4%
Absolute count: 0-800 cells per microliter (mcL) |
Mean number fraction 0.04
Absolute count: 0-0.80 x 109 per liter |
Absolute eosinophil count, % eosinophils (Eos) | Percent (mean) 2.7%
Absolute count: 0-450 cells per microliter (mcL) |
Mean number fraction 0.027
Absolute count: 0-0.45 x 109 per liter |
Absolute basophil count, % basophils (Baso) | Percent (mean) 0.3%
Absolute count: 0-200 cells per microliter (mcL) |
Mean number fraction 0.030
Absolute count: 0-0.20 x 109 per liter |
Platelet tests 1 | Conventional units | SI units |
Platelet Count (Plt) | 150-450 x 103/microliter | 150-450 x 109/L |
MPV (Mean Platelet Volume) Not always reported | This indicates the average size of platelets is small; older platelets are generally smaller than young ones and a low MPV may mean that a condition is affecting the production of platelets by the bone marrow. | |
PDW (Platelet Distribution Width) Not always reported | Indicates uniformity in size of platelets. |
Coagulation (Hemostasis) profile 2
Clinical laboratory test 2 | Normal value in adults |
Bleeding time (Ivy method), blood | 1–9 min |
International normalized ratio (INR), nonanticoagulated, blood | 0.9–1.2 |
Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), nonanticoagulated, blood | 22–30 s |
Prothrombin time (PT), blood | 10–14 s |
Lipid panel 3,4,5,6,7
Test | Optimal or Desirable | Near/Above Optimal | Borderline High | High | Very High |
LDL Cholesterol4 | Less than 100 mg/dL;
with CVD or diabetes: less than 70 mg/dL |
100-129 mg/dL |
130-159 mg/dL
|
160-189 mg/dL
|
Greater than 190 mg/dL |
Total Cholesterol5 | Less than 200 mg/dL | 200-239 mg/dL | 240 mg/dL or higher | ||
Fasting Triglycerides3 | Less than 150 mg/dL | 150-199 mg/dL | 200-499 mg/dL | Greater than 500 mg/dL | |
Non-HDL Cholesterol6 | Less than 130 mg/dL | 130-159 mg/dL | 160-189 mg/dL | 190-219 mg/dL | Greater than 220 mg/dL |
HDL Cholesterol7 | Low Level, Increased Risk | Average Level, Average Risk | High Level, Less than Average Risk |
Women | Less than 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) | 50-59 mg/dl (1.3-1.5 mmol/L) | 60 mg/dL (1.55 mmol/L) or higher |
Men | Less than 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) | 40-50 mg/dL (1.0-1.3 mmol/L) | 60 mg/dL (1.55 mmol/L) or higher |
Liver function tests8
Alanine transaminase (ALT) | 7 to 55 units per liter (U/L) |
Aspartate transaminase (AST) | 8 to 48 U/L |
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) | 40 to 129 U/L |
Albumin | 3.5 to 5.0 grams per deciliter (g/dL) |
Total protein | 6.3 to 7.9 g/dL |
Bilirubin | 0.1 to 1.2 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) |
Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) | 8 to 61 U/L |
L-lactate dehydrogenase (LD) | 122 to 222 U/L |
Prothrombin time (PT) | 9.4 to 12.5 seconds |
Iron panel9,10,11
Iron Panel Tests | Adult Male | Adult Female |
Iron(µg/dL)9 | 35-165 | 35-165 |
Ferritin(µg/L)11 | 24-336 | 11-307 |
Transferrin(mg/dL)10 | 215-365 | 250-380 |
TIBC(µg/dL)9 | 252-479 | 252-479 |
Iron Saturation(%)9 | 20-50 | 15-50 |
Arterial Blood Gas11
Clinical laboratory test11 | Normal value in adults |
pH, arterial blood | 7.38–7.46 |
Pco2, arterial blood | 32–45 mm Hg |
Po2, arterial blood | 83–116 mm Hg |
Bicarbonate (HCO3), arterial blood | 22–27 mmol/L |
Base excess, arterial blood | −2.5 to 2.5 mmol/L |
Thyroid profile11
Clinical laboratory test11 | Normal value in adults |
Thyroid peroxidase antibody, blood | < 35 IU/mL |
Thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone), blood | 0.34–5.60 mIU/L |
Thyroxine, free (FT4), blood | 7.0–17.0 pmol/L |
Triiodothyronine, free (FT3), blood | 3.3–6.0 pmol/L |
Chemical constituents in blood11
Clinical laboratory test11 | Normal value in adults |
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), blood | At 8 AM: 2.2–13.3 pmol/L
At 4 PM: < 4.5 pmol/L |
Albumin, blood | 34–50 g/L |
Aldosterone, blood | 61–978 pmol/L |
Alkaline phosphatase, blood | 50–136 IU/L |
Transaminase | |
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood | 17–63 IU/L |
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood | 15–37 IU/L |
γ-Glutamyltransferase (GGT), blood | 5.0–55.0 IU/L (Female)
15.0–85.0 IU/L (Male) |
Ammonia, blood | ≤ 35 µmol/L |
Amylase, blood | 25–115 IU/L |
Anion gap, blood | 5–12 mmol/L |
Bicarbonate (HCO3), blood | 21–32 mmol/L |
Bilirubin, blood | |
Direct (conjugated) | 2–9 µmol/L |
Total | 3–17 µmol/L |
Brain-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) | |
BNP, blood | ≤ 50 pg/mL |
𝘕-terminal pro–brain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), blood | ≤ 125 pg/mL |
CD4 T-cell count, blood | 500–2000 cells/μL |
C-reactive protein, blood | ≤ 10 mg/L |
Calcium (Ca), blood | |
Total | 2.12–2.52 mmol/L |
Ionized | 1.14–1.28 mmol/L |
Cancer antigen (CA) 125, blood | < 35 kIU/L |
Cancer antigen (CA) 19-9, blood | < 35 kIU/L |
Carbamazepine, blood | 17–51 µmol/L |
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), blood | < 3.0 µg/L |
Chloride (Cl), blood | 98–107 mmol/L |
Cortisol, blood
|
Morning (AM): 185–624 nmol/L
Evening (PM): ≤ 276 nmol/L |
Creatine kinase (CK), blood | 30–190 IU/L (Female)
30–250 IU/L (Male) |
Creatinine, blood | 22–75 µmol/L (Female)
49–93 µmol/L (Male) |
D-dimer, blood | < 600 µg/L |
Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood | ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 |
α1-Fetoprotein, blood | ≤ 9.0 µg/L |
Folate (folic acid), blood | ≥ 10.0 nmol/L |
Glucose, blood | 4.0–6.0 mmol/L (Fasting)
4.0–11.0 mmol/L (Random) |
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood | 4.8%–6.0% |
Hepatitis B surface antibodies, blood | ≥ 10 mIU/mL (Positive)
< 10 mIU/mL (Negative) |
Lactate, blood | 0.5–2.5 mmol/L |
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), blood | 100–205 IU/L |
Lipase, blood | 73–393 IU/L |
Lithium (Li), blood | 0.6–1.2 mmol/L (Age 18–65 y)
0.4–0.8 mmol/L (Age > 65 y) |
Magnesium (Mg), blood | 0.74–1.03 mmol/L |
Osmolality, blood | 275–295 mmol/kg |
Parathyroid hormone (PTH), blood | 1.6–9.3 pmol/L |
Phosphate (PO4), blood | 0.81–1.58 mmol/L |
Potassium (K), blood | 3.5–5.1 mmol/L |
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), blood | < 3.1 µg/L |
Protein, total, blood | 65–83 g/L (Age 18–<30 y)
65–78 g/L (Age ≥30 y) |
Rheumatoid factor (RF), blood | ≤ 20 kIU/L |
Troponin I, blood | ≤ 45 ng/L |
Troponin T (TnT), blood | ≤ 0.1 µg/L |
Uric acid, blood | 155–400 µmol/L (Female)
208–400 µmol/L (Male) |
Urea, blood | 2.1–8.0 mmol/L |
Valproic acid, blood | 350–700 µmol/L |
Vitamin B12, blood | 133–675 pmol/L |
Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D), blood | 75–250 nmol/L |
Urinalysis11
Clinical laboratory test11 | Normal value in adults |
Specific gravity, urine | 1.005–1.030 |
pH, urine | 5.0–8.5 |
Urobilinogen, urine | ≤ 16.0 µmol/L |
Albumin to creatinine ratio, urine | ≤ 2.0 g/mol Cr |
Osmolality, urine | 38–1400 mOsm/kg H2O |
24-hour specimen11
Clinical laboratory test11 | Normal value in adults |
Urine calcium (Ca), unrestricted diet, 24-h specimen | 2.5–7.5 mmol/24 h |
Urine chloride (Cl), 24-h specimen | 110.0–250.0 mmol/24 h |
Urine creatinine, weight-based, 24-h specimen | 5.3–15.9 mmol/24 h (Female)
7.1–17.7 mmol/24 h (Male) |
Urine metanephrine, 24-h specimen | 0.2–1.3 µmol/24 h (Female)
0.3–2.0 µmol/24 h (Male) |
Urine protein, 24-h specimen | < 0.2 g/24 h |
Urine potassium (K), 24-h specimen | 25.0–125.0 mmol/24 h |
Urinary free cortisol, 24-h specimen | 58.0–306.0 µg/24 h |
Urine sodium (Na), 24-h specimen | 40.0–220.0 mmol/24 h |
Reproductive hormones11
Clinical laboratory test11 | Normal value in adult female | Normal value in adult male |
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), blood | 1.4–8.7 µmol/L (18–20 y)
0.5–10.6 µmol/L (21–29 y) 0.6–7.2 µmol/L (30–39 y) 0.5–6.3 µmol/L (40–49 y) 0.2–5.1 µmol/L (50–59 y) 0.3–3.6 µmol/L (60–69 y) 0.2–4.8 µmol/L (70–118 y) |
0.7–14.6 µmol/L (18–20 y)
2.3–18.7 µmol/L (21–29 y) 2.9–12.6 µmol/L (30–39 y) 1.9–13.4 µmol/L (40–49 y) 1.0–8.5 µmol/L (50–59 y) 0.7–6.6 µmol/L (60–69 y) 0.1–6.9 µmol/L (70–118 y) |
Estrogens, total, blood | 60–400 ng/L (Female) | |
Estradiol (E2) [report the phase of the menstrual cycle], blood | 50–100 pmol/L (Follicular phase)
50–200 pmol/L (Midcycle peak) 70–150 pmol/L (Luteal phase) |
37–110 pmol/L |
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) [report the phase of the menstrual cycle], blood | 3.9–8.8 IU/L (Midfollicular phase)
4.5–22.5 IU/L (Midcycle peak) 1.8–5.1 IU/L (Midluteal phase) 16.7–113.6 IU/L (Postmenopausal) |
1.0–19.0 IU/L |
Human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), nonpregnant, blood | < 5 IU/L (Female) | |
Luteinizing hormone (LH) [report the phase of the menstrual cycle], blood | 2.1–10.8 IU/L (Midfollicular phase)
19.2–103.0 IU/L (Midcycle peak) 1.2–12.9 IU/L (Midluteal phase) 10.9–58.6 IU/L (Postmenopausal) |
1.0–9.0 IU/L |
Progesterone [report the phase of the menstrual cycle], blood | 1.0–4.8 nmol/L (Midfollicular phase)
16.4–59.0 nmol/L (Midluteal phase) |
0.5–6.6 nmol/L |
Prolactin, blood | 3–27 µg/L (Premenopausal)
3–20 µg/L (Postmenopausal) |
3–13 µg/L |
Testosterone, blood | ≤ 2.6 nmol/L | 6.1–27.1 nmol/L |
Semen analysis11
Clinical laboratory test | Normal value in adults |
Ejaculate volume, semen | ≥ 1.5 mL |
pH, semen | ≥ 7.2 |
Sperm concentration, semen | ≥ 15 × 106 spermatozoa/mL |
Total sperm number, semen | ≥ 39 × 106 spermatozoa/ejaculate |
Motility, semen | ≥ 40% |
Forward progression, semen | ≥ 32% |
Normal morphology, semen | ≥ 4% normal |
Sperm agglutination, semen | Absent |
Viscosity, semen | ≤ 2-cm thread after liquefaction |
Stool11
Clinical laboratory test | Normal value in adults |
Fecal fat | < 5 g/day in patients on a 100-g fat diet |
Tests and analyses that do not require a normal value11
Urine (not dipstick) | · Eosinophils, urine
· Sodium (Na), urine · Glucose, urine · Bilirubin, urine · Ketone, urine · Blood, urine · Protein, urine · Nitrite, urine · Leukocytes, urine |
Urinalysis, dipstick testing |
· Bilirubin, urine · Blood, urine · Glucose, urine · Ketones, urine · Leukocyte esterase, urine · Nitrite, urine · Protein, urine |
Chemical Constituents |
· Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) · Hepatitis A IgM antibody · Hepatitis A IgG antibody · Hepatitis C antibody · HIV viral load
|
Stool | · Stool culture |
Analyses |
· Pleural fluid · Cerebrospinal fluid · Synovial fluid · Ascitic fluid |
References:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) – Understand the Test & Your Results. Lab Tests Online. (2021). Retrieved 27 August 2021, from https://labtestsonline.org/tests/complete-blood-count-cbc.
- Normal Values | Medical Council of Canada. Mcc.ca. (2021). Retrieved 27 August 2021, from https://mcc.ca/objectives/normal-values/.
- Triglycerides – Understand the Test & Your Results. Lab Tests Online. (2021). Retrieved 27 August 2021, from https://labtestsonline.org/tests/triglycerides.
- LDL Cholesterol – Understand the Test & Your Results. Lab Tests Online. (2021). Retrieved 27 August 2021, from https://labtestsonline.org/tests/ldl-cholesterol.
- Cholesterol Test | Lab Tests Online. Lab Tests Online. (2021). Retrieved 27 August 2021, from https://labtestsonline.org/tests/cholesterol.
- Non-High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol | Lab Tests Online. Lab Tests Online. (2021). Retrieved 27 August 2021, from https://labtestsonline.org/tests/non-high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol.
- HDL Cholesterol – Understand the Test & Your Results. Lab Tests Online. (2021). Retrieved 27 August 2021, from https://labtestsonline.org/tests/hdl-cholesterol.
- Liver function tests – Mayo Clinic. Mayoclinic.org. (2021). Retrieved 27 August 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/liver-function-tests/about/pac-20394595.
- Center, U. (2021). Iron Profile | Mclendon Clinical Laboratories | UNC Medical Center, Hospitals – Chapel Hill, NC. Uncmedicalcenter.org. Retrieved 27 August 2021, from https://www.uncmedicalcenter.org/mclendon-clinical-laboratories/available-tests/iron-profile/.
- Center, U. (2021). Transferrin | Mclendon Clinical Laboratories | UNC Medical Center, Hospitals – Chapel Hill, NC. Uncmedicalcenter.org. Retrieved 27 August 2021, from https://www.uncmedicalcenter.org/mclendon-clinical-laboratories/available-tests/transferrin/.
- Normal Values | Medical Council of Canada. Mcc.ca. (2021). Retrieved 27 August 2021, from https://mcc.ca/objectives/normal-values/.