Examples of critical lab values requiring immediate medical attention

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🩸Sodium (Na+): Normal range is 135-145 mEq/L. Critical values are <120 or >160 mEq/L. Imbalances can cause neurological issues.
• 🧪Potassium (K+): Normal range is 3.5-5.0 mEq/L. Critical values are <2.5 or >6.5 mEq/L. Affects cardiac function.
• 🫁Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Normal range is 23-29 mEq/L. Critical values are <15 or >40 mEq/L. Indicates respiratory or metabolic issues.
• 🍎Glucose: Normal range (fasting) is 70-100 mg/dL. Critical values are <40 or >400 mg/dL. Affects brain function and overall metabolism.
• ❤️Calcium (Ca2+): Normal range is 8.5-10.5 mg/dL. Critical values are <6 or >13 mg/dL. Impacts muscle and nerve function.
• 🩸Hemoglobin (Hgb): Normal range is 13.5-17.5 g/dL (male), 12.0-15.5 g/dL (female). Critical values are <7 or >20 g/dL. Indicates severe anemia or polycythemia.
• 🩸Platelets (PLT): Normal range is 150,000-450,000/µL. Critical values are <20,000 or >1,000,000/µL. Affects blood clotting.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following potassium (K+) levels requires immediate medical attention?
   1. 3.0 mEq/L
   2. 4.5 mEq/L
   3. 6.8 mEq/L
   4. 5.0 mEq/L
2. A patient has a sodium level of 118 mEq/L. What is the primary concern?
   1. Neurological dysfunction
   2. Cardiac arrhythmia
   3. Kidney failure
   4. Respiratory distress
3. A glucose level of 450 mg/dL indicates:
   1. Normal blood sugar
   2. Hyperglycemia requiring immediate treatment
   3. Hypoglycemia
   4. Elevated kidney function
4. Which calcium level is considered critically low and requires immediate intervention?
   1. 9.0 mg/dL
   2. 8.0 mg/dL
   3. 5.5 mg/dL
   4. 10.0 mg/dL
5. A hemoglobin level of 6.5 g/dL indicates:
   1. Normal hemoglobin level
   2. Polycythemia
   3. Severe anemia requiring immediate transfusion
   4. Dehydration
6. A platelet count of 15,000/µL suggests:
   1. Normal clotting ability
   2. Elevated risk of blood clots
   3. High risk of spontaneous bleeding
   4. Mild thrombocytopenia
7. A carbon dioxide (CO2) level of 14 mEq/L may indicate:
   1. Normal respiratory function
   2. Metabolic acidosis
   3. Metabolic alkalosis
   4. Respiratory alkalosis