Blood Chemistry Definitions

To receive automatic updates of Nursing News, Nursing Care Plans, Case Studies and the November 2008 Nursing Board Exam Result: click Subscribe to NursingCrib.com by Email or via RSS. If you have other topics to discuss, make a post on our Nursing Crib Forum. Thanks for visiting and enjoy your stay!

 

Hematocrit (HCT)

The word hematocrit means “to separate blood,” a procedure which is followed following the blood draw through the proper use of a centrifuge. Hematocrit is the measurement of the percentage of red blood cells in whole blood. It is an important determinant of anaemia (decreased), polycythemia (increased), dehydration (elevated), increased R.B.C. breakdown in the spleen (elevated), or possible over hydration (elevated)

Normal Adult Female Range: 37 – 47 %

Optimal Adult Female Reading: 42%

Normal Adult Male Range: 40 – 54%

Optimal Adult Male Reading: 47

Normal Adult Newborn Range: 50 – 62%

Optimal Adult Newborn Reading: 56

Hemoglobin (HGB)

Hemoglobin is the main transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. It is composed of globin a group of amino acids that from a protein and heme which contains iron atoms and red pigment, porphyrin. As with Hematocrit, it is an important determinant of anaemia (decreased), dehydration (increased), polycythemia (increased), poor diet/nutrition, or possibly a malabsorption problem.

Normal Adult Female Range: 12 – 16 %

Optimal Adult Female Reading: 14

Normal Adult Male Range: 14 – 18%

Optimal Adult Male Reading: 16

Normal Adult Newborn Range: 14 – 20%

Optimal Adult Newborn Reading: 17

R.B.C. (Red Blood Cell Count)

Red blood cells main function is to carry oxygen to the tissues and to transfer carbon dioxide to the lungs. This process is possible through the R.B.C. containing hemoglobin which combines easily with oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Normal Adult Female Range: 3.9 – 5.2 mill/mcl

Optimal Adult Female Reading: 4.55

Normal Adult Male Range: 4.2 – 5.6 mill/mcl

Optimal Adult Male Reading: 4.9

Lower ranges are found in Children, newborn and infants

W.B.C (White Blood Cell Count)

White blood cells main function is to fight infection, defend the body by phagocytosis against invasion by foreign organism, and to produce, or at least transport and distribute, antibodies in the immune response. There are a number of types of leukocytes (see differential) that are classified as follows.

Granulocytes

Neutrophiles

Neutrophils

Eosinophils

Basophils

Nongranulocytes

Lymphocytes

Monocytes

Normal Adult Range: 130 – 400 thous/mcl

Optimal Adult Reading: 265

Higher ranges are found in Children, newborn and infants

Liver Enzymes

SGOT (Serum Glutamic-Oxalocetic Transaminase – AST)

Serum Glutamic Oxalocetic Transaminase or AST is an enzyme found primarily in the liver, heart, kidney, pancreas, and muscles. Seen is tissue damage, especially heart and liver this enzyme is normally elevated. Vitamin B deficiency and pregnancy are two instances where the enzyme may be decreased.

Normal Adult Range: 0 – 42 U/L

Optimal Adult Reading: 21

ALT – alanine aminotransferase

AST – aspirate aminotransferase

SGPT (Serum Glutamic-Pyruvic Transaminase-ALT)

Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase or ALT is an enzyme found primarily in the liver but also to a lesser degree, the heart and other tissues. It is useful in diagnosing liver function more so than SGOT levels. Decreased SGPT in combination with increased cholesterol levels is seen in case of a congested liver. We also see increased levels in mononucleosis, liver damage, kidney infection, chemical pollutants or myocardial infarction.

Normal Adult Range: 0 – 48 U/L

Optimal Adult Reading: 24

Nitrogen Elements

B.U.N (Blood Urea Nitrogen)

The nitrogen component of urea, B.U.N. is the end product metabolism and its concentration is influenced by the rate of excretion. Increases can be caused by exercise protein intake, intestinal bleeding, exercise or heart failure. Decreased levels may be dur to a poor diet, malabsorption, liver damage or low nitrogen intake.

Normal Adult Range: 7 – 25 mg/dl

Optimal Adult Reading: 16

Creatinine

Creatinine is the waste product of muscle metabolism. Its level is a reflection of the bodies muscle mass. Low levels are sometimes seen in kidney damage, protein starvation, liver disease or pregnancy. Elevated levels are sometimes seen in kidney disease due to the kidneys job of excreting creatinine, muscle degeneration, and some drugs involved in impairment of kidney function.

Normal Adult Range: 7 – 1.4 mg/dl

Optimal Adult Reading: 1.05

Uric acid

Uric acid is the end product of urine metabolism and is normally excreted through the urine. High levels are noted in gout, infections kidney disease, alcoholism, high protein diets, and with toxaemia in pregnancy. Low levels may be indicative of kidney disease, malabsorption, poor diet, liver damage or an overly acid kidney.

Normal Adult Female Range: 2.5 – 7.5 mg/dl

Optimal Adult Female Reading: 5.0

Normal Adult Male Range: 3.5 – 7.5 mg/dl

Optimal Adult Male Reading: 5.5

Lipids

Cholesterol

Cholestirol is a critical fat that is a structural component of cell membrane and plasma lipoproteins, and is important in the synthesis of steroid hormones, glucocorticoids, and bile acids. Mostly synthesis in the liver, some is absorbed (HLD) is desired as posed to the low density lipoproteins (LDL), two types of cholesterol. Elevated cholesterol has been in artherosclerosis, diabetes, hypothyroidism and pregnancy. Low levels are seen in depression, malnutrition, liver insufficient, malignancies, anemia and infection.

Normal Adult Range: 120 – 240 mg/dl

Optimal Adult Reading: 180

Triglycerides

Triglycerides, stored in adipose tissues as glycerol, fatty acids and monoglyceroids, are reconverted as triglycerides by the liver. Ninety percent of the dietary intake and 95% of the fat stored in tissues are triglycerides. Increased levels may be present in artherosclerosis, hypothyroidism, liver disease, pancreatitis, myocardial infarction, metabolic disorders, toxemia, and nephrotic syndrome. Decreased levels may be present in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, brain infarction, hyperthyroidism, malnutrition, and malabsorption.

Normal Adult Range: 0 – 200 mg/dl

Optimal Adult Reading: 100

Other Nursing Articles you may want to look at:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC) Normal Laboratory Study Values Definition: A complete blood count (CBC) is a series of tests used to evaluate the composition and concentration of the cellular components of blood. It measures the following: The number of red blood cells (RBCs) The number of white blood cells (WBCs) The total amount of hemoglobin in the blood The fraction of the blood composed of red blood cells
• Nursing Care Plan - Gouty Arthritis Gout is a disorder of purine metabolism characterized by elevated uric acid levels with deposition of urate crystals in joints and other tissues. High uric acid levels result from decreased excretion of uric acid ( 90% of cases) due to a wide variety of causes. The disorder may progress from an asymptomatic stage through
• Routine Urinalysis Normal Laboratory Study Values A urinalysis is a group of manual and/or automated qualitative and semi-quantitative tests performed on a urine sample. A routine urinalysis usually includes the following tests: color, transparency, specific gravity, pH, protein, glucose, ketones, blood, bilirubin, nitrite, urobilinogen, and leukocyte esterase. Some laboratories include a microscopic examination of urinary sediment with all routine urinalysis tests.
• VITAL SIGNS1 These are indices of health, or signposts in determining client’s condition. This is also known as cardinal signs and it includes body temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure. These signs have to be looked at in total, to monitor the functions of the body. Different considerations in Taking Vital signs 1)      The frequency of taking TPR and
• Online Nursing Care Plan - Hyperbilirubinemia (Jaundice) Hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice) in the neonate is an accumulation of serum bilirubin above normal levels. Onset of clinical jaundice is seen when serum bilirubin levels are 5 to 7 mg/100 dL. Physiologic jaundice occurs 3 to 5 days after birth and is an increase in unconjugated bilirubin levels that do not exceed 5 mg/100 dL/ day. VIEW