CHEM-20

Normal Values

• Albumin: 3.9 to 5.0 g/dl
• Alkaline phosphatase: 44 to 147 IU/L
• ALT (alanine transaminase): 6 to 59 IU/L
• AST (aspartate aminotransferase): 10 to 34 IU/L
• BUN (blood urea nitrogen): 7 to 20 mg/dl
• Calcium - serum: 8.5 to 10.9 mg/dl
• Serum chloride: 101 to 111 mmol/L
• CO2 (carbon dioxide): 20 to 29 mmol/L
• Creatinine: 0.8 to 1.4 mg/dl
• Direct bilirubin: 0.0 to 0.3 mg/dl
• Gamma-GT (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase): 0 to 51 IU/L
• Glucose test: 64 to 128 mg/dl
• LDH (lactate dehydrogenase): 105 to 333 IU/L
• Phosphorus - serum: 2.4 to 4.1 mg/dl
• Potassium test: 3.7 to 5.2 mEq/L
• Serum sodium: 136 to 144 mEq/L
• Total bilirubin: 0.2 to 1.9 mg/dl
• Total cholesterol: 100 to 240 mg/dl
• Total protein: 6.3 to 7.9 g/dl
• Uric acid: 4.1 to 8.8 mg/dl

Key to abbreviations:

• IU = international unit
• L = liter
• dl = deciliter = 0.1 liter
• g/dl = gram per deciliter
• mg = milligram
• mmol = millimole
• mEq = milliequivalents

Electrolytes:

• Positively charged ions (cations) include sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium (usually drawn separately; see magnesium - serum).
• Negatively charged ions (anions) include chloride, bicarbonate (essentially the same as CO2), protein (see total protein), phosphorous, SO4, and organic acids.

When an electrolyte test is performed, the measured ions usually include sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate. Calcium and magnesium levels are also obtained in many institutions as part of this test.