Blood chemistry normal values
Home | Contents | Help
General Chemistry
Values are non-fasting, venous, serum, unless otherwise stated
Normal values (or reference ranges) generally approximate the 95% confidence limits of values seen in healthy people (some are age specific)
Most laboratory methods are standardised, however variations may occur
Clinicians should assess individual results using the ranges quoted by the laboratory performing the test
Click the analyte to see information, including abnormal levels.
Osmolality: 280-300 mmol/kg water
Anion gap: 8-16 mmol/L
Bicarbonate (total CO2): 24-32 mmol/L
Sodium: 135-145 mmol/L
Potassium: 3.8-4.9 mmol/L
Chloride: 95-110 mmol/L
Glucose (random): 3.0-7.7 mmol/L [2 hours post prandial]
Glucose (fasting): 3.0-5.4 mmol/L
Bilirubin (total): < 20 µmol/L
Bilirubin (direct): < 7 µmol/L
Calcium (total): 2.10-2.60 mmol/L
Calcium (albumin corrected): 2.15-2.60 mmol/L
Calcium (ionised): 1.16-1.30 mmol/L
Phosphate: 0.8-1.5 mmol/L
Total protein: 62-80 g/L
Albumin: 35-47 g/L
Globulin: 25-35 g/L
Urea: 3.0-8.0 mmol/L
Creatinine (adult male): 0.06-0.12 mmol/L
Creatinine (adult female): 0.05-0.12 mmol/L
Creatinine (child < 12): 0.04-0.08 mmol/L
Urate (male): 0.20-0.45 mmol/L
Urate (female): 0.15-0.40 mmol/L
eGFR (18-40 years): ≥ 90 mL/min/1.73m2
In healthy adults after 40, eGFR decreases by 10 mL/min/1.73m2 per decade
Blood gases
These values are for inspired room air (no supplemental O2 ), and at normal atmospheric pressure (sea level).
Arterial (ABGs)
pH: 7.35-7.45
PaO2 : 80-100 mmHg (10.6 – 13.3 kPa)
SaO2 : 95-100%
PaCO2 : 35-45 mmHg (4.7 – 6.0 kPa)
Bicarbonate: 22-26 mmol/L
Base excess: +2 to -2 mmol/L
Lactate: 0.5-2.0 mmol/L
See related: Blood gas abnormalities
2 is estimated by multiplying the inspired O2 % by 5. For example on 40% O2 , PaO2 should be around 200 mmHg.
Venous (VBGs)
pH: 7.32-7.43
PvO2 : 25-48 mmHg
SvO2 : 50-70%
PvCO2 : 38-52 mmHg
Bicarbonate: 23-27 mmol/L
Base excess: +2 to -2 mmol/L
Lactate: 0.4-2.3 mmol/L
VBGs correnate better than ABGs with the tissue situation during cardiac arrest. ABGs are more useful after return ot spontaneous circulation.
VBGs are also useful when monitoring a metabolic disturbances without respiratory compromise.
Enzymes
Acid phosphatase (total): 2.3-5.7 U/L
Acid phosphatase (prostatic): 0.4-1.9 U/L
ALP
Adult, not pregnant: 25-100 U/L
Growing child: 70-350 U/L
Neonate: 50-300 U/L
ALT: 5-40 U/L
Amylase: 70-400 U/L
AST: 10-45 U/L
CK (male): 60-220 U/L
CK (female): 30-180 U/L
CK (neonate): 70-380 U/L
CKMB: 5% total CK
GGT (male): < 50 U/L
GGT (female): < 30 U/L
LD: 110-230 U/L
Special Proteins
Related Items
External links
RCPA manual of use and interpretation of pathology tests The main purpose of this online manual is to provide useful guidelines for the selection of pathology tests and to facilitate interpretation of results. From the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (www.rcpamanual.edu.au).
Top