Lab values are a vital part of healthcare and have long been used to assess and diagnose health issues. They are a valuable tool in patient care, giving healthcare professionals an insight into the body’s normal and abnormal functioning. Lab values are generally referred to as “tests” and are used to measure levels of blood components, such as cholesterol and glucose, as well as organs, hormones, and other components. These tests are often taken in conjunction with physical exams and other tests to assess overall health. Lab values can be used to diagnose and monitor many different medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of lab values, what they are, and how they can be used to assess and monitor health. We will look at the various types of lab values, how they are interpreted, and what happens if there is a discrepancy in the results. Finally, we will discuss why it is important to have lab values checked and
Lab Values for Nursing Students | NCLEX Review
Cerebral spinal fluid
You can tell with certainty if a patient has a brain or spinal cord disease by performing a cerebral spinal fluid test. Before enrolling in college, young adults are immunized against the brain and spinal cord condition meningitis, which can be brought on by an infection.
Look at the two lab results below to see what they represent:
Red blood cells
By checking the patient’s red blood cell count, you can determine whether they have enough of them to carry oxygen throughout their bodies and have the capacity to release carbon dioxide when they exhale.
Here are some lab results to check your red blood cell count:
White blood cells
You can find out if you have an infection and other undiagnosed conditions, such as an autoimmune disease, by checking your white blood cell count. It can provide a prognosis for the patient’s future as well as a measure of the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
As an example, consider the patient’s white blood cell measurement results from the lab:
On your lab report, the term “Normal Range” or “Reference Range” refers to the set of normal values that each commercial laboratory uses. These values depend on the equipment or method used. Compared to the range on your lab report, compare your results. Out-of-range results might not necessarily indicate a problem.
The table below compares the units used in the U. S. with the Système International d’Unités (SI units), an international metric system The last column, To Convert U. S. to SI Units, is the factor to multiply U. S. lab values to convert them to SI units. To convert SI units to U. S. units, divide the SI value by the conversion factor.
mole: Also known as “gram molecular weight,” this unit of measurement is based on the substance’s atomic weight. The Système Internationale expresses a lot of test results as the number of moles per liter. These measurements are typically made in grams per liter using US units. The terms mmol (millimoles), mol (micromoles), nmol (nanomoles), and pmol (picomoles) per liter are used in this table.
Your age or biological sex, whether you are pregnant, the time of day the sample was taken, active infections, the stage of your HIV disease, and food (some test samples need to be taken after you have fasted [not eaten anything] for several hours] can all affect the results of your test. When the normal values for people whose gender was assigned at birth (AFAB) and those whose gender was assigned at birth (AMAB) differ, they are denoted as F and M, respectively.
What is a laboratory test?
In a laboratory test, a medical professional extracts a sample of your blood, urine, other bodily fluid, or body tissue to learn more about your health. A specific disease or condition may be detected, screened for, or monitored using some lab tests. Other tests give a more comprehensive picture of your body’s organs and systems.
Lab tests play an important role in your health care. But they dont provide a complete picture of your health. To aid in the diagnosis and treatment process, your doctor will probably conduct a physical examination, ask about your medical history, and perform additional tests and procedures.
[ Lab Values – A thru Z ]
Checking blood, urine, and body tissue samples as part of laboratory testing entails determining whether the resulting lab values fall within the normal range. Lab results are used to assess the general health and wellbeing of a patient.
The results and lab values of a patient can be affected by a variety of variables, but some of the most frequent ones are gender, age, race, the medications they are taking, and the existence of any underlying conditions. Additionally, patients will be advised by doctors to refrain from eating, drinking, and taking medication several hours prior to the test.
FAQ
What are examples of lab values?
- Ammonia: 15-50 µmol/L.
- Ceruloplasmin: 15-60 mg/dL.
- Chloride: 95-105 mmol/L.
- Copper: 70-150 µg/dL.
- Creatinine: 0.8-1.3 mg/dL.
- Blood urea nitrogen: 8-21 mg/dL.
- Ferritin: 12-300 ng/mL (men), 12-150 ng/mL (women)
- Glucose: 65-110 mg/dL.
What are normal lab values?
Laboratory values that are considered normal High160-189 mg/dL4Normal Range in US UnitsNormal Range in SI Units 14 – 4. 89 mmol/LVery High>190 mg/dL>4. 91 mmol/LCholesterol, HDL>60 mg/dL>1. 55 mmol/LModerate40-60 mg/dL1. 03-1. 55 mmol/L.
What are lab values in nursing?
- pH: 7.35-7.45.
- Partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2): 75 to 100 mmHg.
- Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2): 35-45 mmHg.
- Bicarbonate (HCO3): 22-26 mEq/L.
- Oxygen saturation (O2 Sat): 94-100%
Why do we check lab values?
As part of a routine checkup to check for changes in your health, laboratory tests are frequently performed. Additionally, they assist medical professionals with disease monitoring, planning, and diagnosis of medical conditions.
