APPENDIX II

Normal Laboratory
Values
Following are 5 tables with reference values
(intervals) for blood, urine, CSF, stool, and
other fluids (eg, gastric acid). Table 6 lists
commonly used panels. (NOTE: The reference values provided in these tables should be
used as guidelines only.) Reference values vary

based on several factors, including the demographics of the healthy population from which
specimens were obtained and the specific
methods and/or instruments used to assay these
specimens. Laboratories that are accredited by
the College of American Pathologists (CAP)
are required to establish and/or validate their
own reference values at least annually. Thus,
any given result should be interpreted based on
the reference value of the laboratory in which
the test was done; the laboratory typically provides these values with the test result.

Table 1. NORMAL LABORATORY VALUES:

BLOOD, PLASMA, AND SERUM
TEST

SPECIMEN

CONVENTIONAL
UNITS

Acetoacetate
Plasma
< 1 mg/dL
Acetylcholinesterase (ACE), RBC
Blood
26.749.2 U/g Hb
Acid phosphatase
Serum
0.55.5 U/L
Activated partial thromboplastin
Plasma
2535 sec
time (aPTT)
Adrenocorticotropic hormone
Serum
952 pg/mL
(ACTH)
Albumin
Serum
3.55.5 g/dL
Aldosterone:
Standing
Serum
720 ng/dL
Supine
Serum
25 ng/dL
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
Serum
3692 U/L
Alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT)
Serum
83199 mg/dL
Alpha fetoprotein (AFP)
Serum
020 ng/dL
-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA)
Serum
1523 g/L
Aminotransferase, alanine (ALT)
Serum
035 U/L
Aminotransferase, aspartate (AST)
Serum
035 U/L
Ammonia
Plasma
4080 g/dL
Amylase
Serum
0130 U/L
Antibodies to extractable nuclear
Serum
< 20.0 units
antigen (AENA)
Anticyclic citrullinated peptide
Serum
5.0 units
(anti-CCP) antibodies
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH;
Plasma
< 1.7 pg/mL
arginine vasopressin)
Antidouble-stranded DNA
Serum
< 25 IU
Downloaded from http://www.tidyforms.com
(dsDNA) antibodies, IgG
Antimitochondrial M2 antibodies
Serum
< 0.1 units

SI UNITS

< 0.1 mmol/L

00.9 kat/L

211 pmol/L
3555 g/L
194554 pmol/L
55138 pmol/L
0.51.5 kat/L

020 pg/L
1.141.75 mol/L
00.58 pkat/L
00.58 pkat/L
2347 mol/L
02.17 kat/L

< 1.57 pmol/L

Table continues on the following page.

Table 1. NORMAL LABORATORY VALUES:

BLOOD, PLASMA, AND SERUM (Continued )
TEST

SPECIMEN

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic
antibodies (cANCA)
Antinuclear antibodies (ANA)
Antismooth muscle antibodies
(ASMA) titer
Antistreptolysin O titer
Antithyroid microsomal
antibody titer
1-Antitrypsin (AAT)
Apolipoproteins:
A-I, females
A-I, males
B-100, females
B-100, males
Bicarbonate
Bilirubin:
Direct
Total
Blood volume:
Plasma, females

SI UNITS

Serum

Negative

Serum
Serum

1.0 units
1:80

Serum
Serum

< 150 units

< 1:100

Serum

83199 mg/dL

15.336.6 mol/L

Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum

98210 mg/dL
88180 mg/dL
44148 mg/dL
55151 mg/dL
2328 mEq/L

0.982.1 g/L
0.881.8 g/L
0.441.48 g/L
0.551.51 g/L
2328 mmol/L

Serum
Serum

00.3 mg/dL
0.31.2 mg/dL

05.1 mol/L
5.120.5 mol/L

Blood

0.0280.043 L/kg
body wt
0.0250.044 L/kg
body wt
0.020.03

Plasma

2843 mL/kg
body wt
2544 mL/kg
body wt
2030 mL/kg
body wt
2535 mL/kg
body wt
< 100 pg/mL

0.0250.035 L/kg
body wt

Serum
Serum
Serum

< 8 pg/mL
< 16 pg/mL
910.5 mg/dL

2.22.6 mmol/L

Serum
Serum
Serum
Blood

< 35 U/mL
< 30 U/mL
2328 mEq/L
3545 mm Hg

2328 mmol/L

Plasma
Serum
Serum

0.55%
< 2 ng/mL
75300 g/L

< 2 g/L
1.45.6 mol/L

Plasma, males

Blood

RBCs, females

Blood

RBCs, males

Blood

Brain (B-type) natriuretic peptide

(BNP)
Calcitonin, age 16 yr:
Females
Males
Calcium
Cancer antigen (CA):
CA 125
CA 15-3
Carbon dioxide (CO2) content
Carbon dioxide partial pressure
(PCO2)
Carboxyhemoglobin
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
Carotene

CONVENTIONAL
UNITS

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Table 1. NORMAL LABORATORY VALUES:

BLOOD, PLASMA, AND SERUM (Continued )
CONVENTIONAL
UNITS

TEST

SPECIMEN

CD4:CD8 ratio
CD4+ T-cell count
CD8+ T-cell count
Ceruloplasmin
Chloride
Cholesterol, desirable level:
High-density lipoprotein (HDL-C)
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C)
Total (TC)
Coagulation factors:
Factor I
Factor II

Blood
Blood
Blood
Serum
Serum

14
6401175/L
335875/L
2543 mg/dL
98106 mEq/L

0.641.18  109/L
0.340.88  109/L
250430 mg/L
98106 mmol/L

Plasma
Plasma
Plasma

40 mg/dL
130 mg/dL
150199 mg/dL

1.04 mmol/L
3.36 mmol/L
3.885.15 mmol/L

Plasma
Plasma

150300 mg/dL
60150% of
normal
60150% of
normal
60150% of
normal
60150% of
normal
60150% of
normal
60150% of
normal
60150% of
normal
60150% of
normal

1.53.5 g/L

Factor IX

Plasma

Factor V

Plasma

Factor VII

Plasma

Factor VIII

Plasma

Factor X

Plasma

Factor XI

Plasma

Factor XII

Plasma

SI UNITS

Complement:
C3
C4
Total
Copper
Cortisol:
1 h after cosyntropin

Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum

55120 mg/dL
2059 mg/dL
3755 U/mL
70155 g/L

0.551.20 g/L
0.200.59 g/L
3755 kU/L
1124.3 mol/L

Serum

> 18 g/dL and

usually 8 g/dL
above baseline

At 5 PM
At 8 AM
After overnight suppression test
C-peptide
C-reactive protein (CRP)

Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum

313 g/dL
820 g/dL
< 5 g/dL
0.94.3 ng/mL
< 0.5 mg/dL

> 498 nmol/L and

usually 221
nmol/L above
baseline
83359 nmol/L
251552 nmol/L
< 138 nmol/L
2971419 pmol/L
< 0.005 g/L

Table continues on the following page.

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Table 1. NORMAL LABORATORY VALUES:

BLOOD, PLASMA, AND SERUM (Continued )
CONVENTIONAL
UNITS

TEST

SPECIMEN

C-reactive protein, highly sensitive

(hsCRP)
Creatine kinase (CK)
Creatinine
D-Dimer
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate
(DHEA-S):
Females
Males
-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)
11-Deoxycortisol (DOC):
After metyrapone
Basal
D-Xylose level 2 h after ingestion of
25 g of D-xylose
Epinephrine, supine
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
(ESR):
Females
Males
Erythropoietin
Estradiol, females:
Day 110 of menstrual cycle
Day 1120 of menstrual cycle
Day 2130 of menstrual cycle
Estradiol, males
Ferritin
-Fetoprotein (AFP)
Fibrinogen
Folate (folic acid):
RBC
Serum
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),
females:
Follicular or luteal phase
Midcycle peak
Postmenopausal
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),
adult males
Fructosamine
Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase
(GGT)

Serum

< 1.1 mg/L

< 0.0011 g/L

Serum
Serum
Plasma

30170 U/L
0.71.3 mg/dL
300 ng/mL

0.52.83 kat/L
61.9115 mol/L
300 g/L

Plasma
Plasma
Serum

0.63.3 mg/mL
1.35.5 mg/mL
1523 g/L

1.68.9 mol/L
3.514.9 mol/L
1.141.75 mol/L

Plasma
Plasma
Serum

> 7 g/dL
< 5 g/dL
> 20 mg/dL

> 203 nmol/L

< 145 nmol/L
> 1.3 nmol/L

Plasma

< 75 ng/L

< 410 pmol/L

Blood
Blood
Serum

020 mm/h
015 mm/h
4.018.5 mIU/mL

020 mm/h
020 mm/h
4.018.5 IU/L

Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum
Plasma

1427
1454
1940
1030 pg/mL
15200 ng/mL
020 ng/dL
150350 mg/dL

50100 pmol/L
50200 pmol/L
70150 pmol/L
37110 pmol/L
15200 g/L
020 pg/L
1.53.5 g/L

Blood
Serum

160855 ng/mL
2.520 ng/mL

3621937 nmol/L
5.745.3 nmol/L

Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum

520 mU/mL
3050 mU/mL
> 35 mU/mL
515 mU/mL

520 U/L
3050 U/L
> 35 U/L
515 U/L

Plasma
Serum

200285 mol/L
878 U/L

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SI UNITS

Table 1. NORMAL LABORATORY VALUES:

BLOOD, PLASMA, AND SERUM (Continued )
CONVENTIONAL
UNITS

TEST

SPECIMEN

Gastrin
Globulins:
1-Globulins
2-Globulins
-Globulins
-Globulins
2-Microglobulin
Glucose:
2-h postprandial
Fasting
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
(G6PD)
-Glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)
Growth hormone:
After oral glucose
In response to provocative stimuli
Haptoglobin
Hematocrit:
Females
Males
Hemoglobin:
Females
Males
Hemoglobin A1c
Hemoglobin electrophoresis, adults:
Hb A1
Hb A2
Hb C
Hb F
Hb S
Hemoglobin electrophoresis,
Hb F in children:
Neonate
16 mo
> 6 mo
Homocysteine:
Females
Males
Human chorionic gonadotropin
(hCG), quantitative

Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum

0180 pg/mL
2.53.5 g/dL
0.20.4 g/dL
0.50.9 g/dL
0.61.1 g/dL
0.71.7 g/dL
0.71.8 g/mL

0180 ng/L
2535 g/L
24 g/L
59 g/L
611 g/L
717 g/L

Plasma
Plasma
Blood

< 140 mg/dL

70105 mg/dL
515 U/g Hb

Serum

878 U/L

< 7.8 mmol/L

3.95.8 mmol/L
0.320.97 mU/
mol Hb

Plasma
Plasma
Serum

< 2 ng/mL
> 7 ng/mL
30200 mg/dL

< 2 g/L
> 7 g/L
3002000 mg/L

Blood
Blood

3647%
4151%

Blood
Blood
Blood

1216 g/dL
1417 g/dL
4.78.5%

120160 g/L
140170 g/L

9598%
23%
0%
0.82.0%
0%

5080%
8%
12%

Plasma
Plasma
Serum

0.401.89 mg/L
0.542.16 mg/L
< 5 mIU/mL

314 umol/L
416 umol/L

Table
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SI UNITS

continues on the following page.

Table 1. NORMAL LABORATORY VALUES:

BLOOD, PLASMA, AND SERUM (Continued )
TEST

SPECIMEN

Immunoglobulins:
IgA
IgD
IgE
IgG
IgG1
IgG2
IgG3
IgG4
IgM
Insulin, fasting
International normalized ratio (INR):
Therapeutic range
(standard intensity therapy)
Therapeutic range in patients at
higher risk (eg, patients with
prosthetic heart valves)
Therapeutic range in patients with
lupus anticoagulant
Iron
Iron-binding capacity, total (TIBC)
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
Lactic acid, venous
Lactose tolerance test

CONVENTIONAL
UNITS

SI UNITS

Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum

70300 mg/dL
< 8 mg/dL
0.010.04 mg/dL
6401430 mg/dL
2801020 mg/dL
60790 mg/dL
14240 mg/dL
11330 mg/dL
20140 mg/dL
1.414 IU/mL

0.73.0 g/L
< 80 mg/L
0.10.4 mg/L
6.414.3 g/L
2.810.2 g/L
0.67.9 g/L
0.142.4 g/L
0.113.3 g/L
0.21.4 g/L
10104 pmol/L

Plasma

2.03.0

Plasma

2.53.5

Plasma

3.03.5

Serum
Serum
Serum
Blood
Plasma

1129 mol/L
4582 mol/L
11.67 kat/L
0.671.8 mmol/L
> 0.83 mmol/L
increase in plasma glucose level
< 1.9 mol/L

< 1.58 kat/L

< 1.1 mol/L
522 U/L
30250 U/L
> 30 U/L
315 U/L
0.620.99 mmol/L
5.516.4 nmol/L

Lead
Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase
(LAP) score

Blood
Peripheral
blood
smear

Lipase
Lipoprotein (a) (Lp[a])
Luteinizing hormone (LH), females:
Follicular or luteal phase
Midcycle peak
Postmenopausal
Luteinizing hormone, males
Magnesium
Manganese
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
(MCH)

Serum
Serum

60160 g/dL
250460 g/dL
60160 U/L
616 mg/dL
> 15 mg/dL
increase in plasma
glucose level
< 40 g/dL
13130/100/
polymorphonuclear
(PMN) leukocyte
neutrophils and
bands
< 95 U/L
30 mg/dL

Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum
Blood

522 mU/mL
30250 mU/mL
> 30 mU/mL
315 mU/mL
1.52.4 mg/dL
0.30.9 ng/mL
2832 pg

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Table 1. NORMAL LABORATORY VALUES:

BLOOD, PLASMA, AND SERUM (Continued )
CONVENTIONAL
UNITS

TEST

SPECIMEN

SI UNITS

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin

concentration (MCHC)
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
Metanephrines, fractionated:
Metanephrines, free
Normetanephrines, free
Methemoglobin
Methylmalonic acid (MMA)
Myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibodies
Myoglobin:
Females
Males
Norepinephrine, supine
N-Terminal propeptide of BNP
(NT-proBNP)
5'-Nucleotidase (5'NT)
Osmolality

Blood

3236 g/dL

320360 g/L

Blood

80100 fL

Plasma
Plasma
Blood
Serum
Serum

< 0.50 nmol/L

< 0.90 nmol/L
< 1.0%
150370 nmol/L
< 6.0 U/mL

Serum
Serum
Plasma
Plasma

2558 g/L
2872 g/L
50440 pg/mL
< 125 pg/mL

1.43.5 nmol/L
1.64.1 nmol/L
0.32.6 nmol/L

Serum
Plasma

275295 mmol/
kg H2O

1065 ng/L

Osmotic fragility test

Blood

Oxygen partial pressure (PO2)

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
Parathyroid hormonerelated peptide
(PTHrP)
Partial thromboplastin time, activated
(aPTT)
pH
Phosphorus, inorganic
Platelet count
Platelet life span, using chromium-51
(51Cr)
Porphyrins
Potassium
Prealbumin (transthyretin)
Progesterone:
Follicular phase

Blood
Serum
Plasma

411.5 U/L
275295 mOsm/kg
H2O
Increased fragility
if hemolysis
occurs in
> 0.5% NaCl
Decreased fragility
if hemolysis is
incomplete in
0.3% NaCl
80100 mm Hg
1065 pg/mL
< 2.0 pmol/L

Plasma

2535 sec

Blood
Serum
Blood

7.387.44
3.04.5 mg/dL
150350  103/L
812 days

0.971.45 mmol/L
150350  109/L

Plasma
Serum
Serum

1.0 g/dL
3.55 mEq/L
1845 mg/dL

3.55 mmol/L

Serum

< 1 ng/mL

< 0.03 nmol/L

Serum

330 ng/mL

0.10.95 nmol/L

Luteal phase

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Table 1. NORMAL LABORATORY VALUES:

BLOOD, PLASMA, AND SERUM (Continued )
TEST

SPECIMEN

Prolactin:
Females
Males
Prostate-specific antigen, total (PSA-T)
Prostate-specific antigen, ratio of free
to total (PSA-F:PSA-T)
Protein C activity
Protein C resistance, activated ratio
(APC-R)
Protein S activity
Protein, total
Prothrombin time (PT)
Pyruvate

RBC count

RBC survival rate, using 51Cr

Renin activity, plasma (PRA), upright,
in males and females 1839 yr:
Sodium-depleted
Sodium-repleted
Reticulocyte count:
Percentage
Absolute
Rheumatoid factor (RF)
Sodium
Testosterone, adults:
Females
Males
Thrombin time
Thyroid iodine-123 (123I) uptake
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
Thyroxine (T4):
Free
Free index
Total
Transferrin
Transferrin saturation
Triglycerides (desirable level)

CONVENTIONAL
UNITS

SI UNITS

Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum

< 20 g/L
< 15 g/L
04 ng/mL
> 0.25

< 870 pmol/L

< 652 pmol/L

Plasma
Plasma

67131%
2.22.6

Plasma
Serum
Plasma
Blood
Blood

82144%
67.8 g/dL
1113 sec
0.080.16 mmol/L
4.25.9  106
cells/L
T1/2 = 28 days

6078 g/L

4.25.9  1012
cells/L

Plasma
Plasma

2.924 ng/mL/h
0.6 (or lower)4.3
ng/mL/h

Blood
Blood
Serum
Serum

0.51.5%
2390  103/L
< 40 U/mL
136145 mEq/L

2390  109/L
< 40 kU/L
136145 mmol/L

Serum
Serum
Plasma

0.72.6 nmol/L
1042 nmol/L

Serum

2075 ng/dL
3001200 ng/dL
18.524 sec
530% of administered dose at 24 h
0.55.0 IU/mL

Serum

Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum

0.92.4 ng/dL
411 g/dL
512 g/dL
212360 mg/dL
2050%
< 250 mg/dL

1231 pmol/L

64155 nmol/L
2.13.6 g/L

< 2.82 mmol/L

Blood

0.55.0 mIU/L

Table continues on the following page.

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Table 1. NORMAL LABORATORY VALUES:

BLOOD, PLASMA, AND SERUM (Continued )
TEST

SPECIMEN

Triiodothyronine (T3):
Uptake
Total
Troponin I
Troponin T
Urea nitrogen (BUN)
Uric acid
Vitamin B12
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid):
Leukocyte
Total
Vitamin D:
1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol
(calcitriol)
25-Hydroxycholecalciferol
WBC count (see pp. 948 and 952)
Zinc

Serum

CONVENTIONAL
UNITS

SI UNITS

Serum
Serum
Plasma
Serum
Serum
Serum
Serum

2535%
70195 ng/dL
< 0.1 ng/mL
0.03 ng/mL
820 mg/dL
2.58 mg/dL
200800 pg/mL

1.13.0 nmol/L
< 0.1 g/L
0.03 g/L
2.97.1 mmol/L
0.150.47 mmol/L
148590 pmol/L

Blood
Blood

< 20 mg/dL
0.41.5 mg/dL

< 1136 mol/L

2385 mol/L

Serum

2565 pg/mL

65169 pmol/L

Serum
Blood

1580 ng/mL
3.910.7  103
cells/L
66110 g/dL

37200 nmol/L
3.910.7  109
cells/L
10.116.8 mol/L

kat = microkatal; pkat = picokatal.

Copyright 2011 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, N.J. U.S.A.
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