Normal Laboratory Values: Blood, Plasma, and Serum
Reference values vary based on several factors, including the specific laboratory that supplies them. A patient’s blood, plasma, serum test values 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.
Test |
Specimen |
Conventional Units |
SI Units |
| Acetoacetate | Plasma | < 1 mg/dL | < 0.1 mmol/L |
| Acetylcholinesterase (ACE), RBC | Blood | 26.7–49.2 U/g Hb | — |
| Acid phosphatase | Serum | 0.5–5.5 U/L | 0–0.9 mckat/L |
| Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) | Plasma | 25–36 sec | — |
| Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) | Serum | 9–52 pg/mL (morning draw) | 2–11 pmol/L (morning draw) |
| Albumin | Serum | 3.5–5.4 g/dL | 35–54 g/L |
| Aldosterone | |||
| * Standing | Serum | 7–20 ng/dL | 194–554 pmol/L |
| * Supine | Serum | 2–5 ng/dL | 55–138 pmol/L |
| Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) | Serum | 36–150 U/L | 0.5–2.5 mckat/L |
| Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) | Serum | 83–199 mg/dL | 15.3–36.6 mcmol/L |
| Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) | Serum | 0–20 ng/dL | 0–20 pg/L |
| δ-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) | Serum | 15–23 mcg/L | 1.14–1.75 mcmol/L |
| Aminotransferase, alanine (ALT) | Serum | 0–35 U/L | 0–0.58 pkat/L |
| Aminotransferase, aspartate (AST) | Serum | 0–35 U/L | 0–0.58 pkat/L |
| Ammonia | Plasma | 40–80 mcg/dL | 23–47 mcmol/L |
| Amylase | Serum | 0–130 U/L | 0–2.17 mckat/L |
| Antibodies to extractable nuclear antigen (AENA) | Serum | < 20.0 units | — |
| Anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies | Serum | ≤ 5.0 units | — |
| Antidiuretic hormone (ADH; arginine vasopressin) | Plasma | < 1.7 pg/mL | < 1.57 pmol/L |
| Anti–double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies, IgG | Serum | < 25 IU | — |
| Antimitochondrial M2 antibodies | Serum | < 0.1 units | — |
| Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (cANCA) | Serum | Negative | — |
| Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) | Serum | ≤ 1.0 units | — |
| Anti–smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA) titer | Serum | ≤ 1:80 | — |
| Antistreptolysin O titer | Serum | < 150 units | — |
| Antithyroid microsomal antibody titer | Serum | < 1:100 | — |
| α1-Antitrypsin (AAT) | Serum | 83–199 mg/dL | 15.3–36.6 mcmol/L |
| Apolipoproteins: | |||
| * A-I, females | Serum | 98–210 mg/dL | 0.98–2.1 g/L |
| * A-I, males | Serum | 88–180 mg/dL | 0.88–1.8 g/L |
| * B-100, females | Serum | 44–148 mg/dL | 0.44–1.48 g/L |
| * B-100, males | Serum | 55–151 mg/dL | 0.55–1.51 g/L |
| Bicarbonate | Serum | 23–28 mEq/L | 23–28 mmol/L |
| Bilirubin: | |||
| * Direct | Serum | 0–0.3 mg/dL | 0–5.1 mcmol/L |
| * Total | Serum | 0.3–1.2 mg/dL | 5.1–20.5 mcmol/L |
| Blood volumes (radioisotope labeling): | |||
| * Plasma, females | Blood | 28–43 mL/kg body wt | 0.028–0.043 L/kg body wt |
| * Plasma, males | Blood | 25–44 mL/kg body wt | 0.025–0.044 L/kg body wt |
| * RBCs, females | Blood | 20–30 mL/kg body wt | 0.02–0.03 L/kg body wt |
| * RBCs, males | Blood | 25–35 mL/kg body wt | 0.025–0.035 L/kg body wt |
| Brain (B-type) natriuretic peptide (BNP) | Plasma | < 100 pg/mL | — |
| Calcitonin, age ≥ 16 yr: | |||
| * Females | Serum | < 8 pg/mL | — |
| * Males | Serum | < 16 pg/mL | — |
| Calcium | Serum | 9–10.5 mg/dL | 2.2–2.6 mmol/L |
| Cancer antigen (CA): | |||
| * CA 125 | Serum | < 35 U/mL | — |
| * CA 15-3 | Serum | < 30 U/mL | — |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) content | Serum | 23–28 mEq/L | 23–28 mmol/L |
| Carbon dioxide partial pressure (PCO2) | Blood | 35–45 mm Hg | — |
| Carboxyhemoglobin | Plasma | 0.5–5% | — |
| Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) | Serum | < 2 ng/mL | < 2 mcg/L |
| Carotene | Serum | 75–300 mcg/L | 1.4–5.6 mcmol/L |
| CD4:CD8 ratio | Blood | 1–4 | — |
| CD4+ T-cell count | Blood | 640–1175/mcL | 0.64–1.18 x 109/L |
| CD8+ T-cell count | Blood | 335–875/mcL | 0.34–0.88 x 109/L |
| Ceruloplasmin | Serum | 25–43 mg/dL | 250–430 mg/L |
| Chloride | Serum | 98–106 mEq/L | 98–106 mmol/L |
| Cholesterol, desirable level: | |||
| * High-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) | Plasma | ≥ 40 mg/dL | ≥ 1.04 mmol/L |
| * Low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) | Plasma | ≤ 130 mg/dL | ≤ 3.36 mmol/L |
| Total (TC) | Plasma | 150–199 mg/dL | 3.88–5.15 mmol/L |
| Coagulation factors: | |||
| * Factor I | Plasma | 150–300 mg/dL | 1.5–3.5 g/L |
| * Factor II | Plasma | 60–150% of normal | — |
| * Factor IX | Plasma | 60–150% of normal | — |
| * Factor V | Plasma | 60–150% of normal | — |
| * Factor VII | Plasma | 60–150% of normal | — |
| * Factor VIII | Plasma | 60–150% of normal | — |
| * Factor X | Plasma | 60–150% of normal | — |
| * Factor XI | Plasma | 60–150% of normal | — |
| * Factor XII | Plasma | 60–150% of normal | — |
| Complement: | |||
| * C3 | Serum | 55–120 mg/dL | 0.55–1.20 g/L |
| * C4 | Serum | 20–59 mg/dL | 0.20–0.59 g/L |
| Total | Serum | 37–55 U/mL | 37–55 kU/L |
| Copper | Serum | 70–155 mcg/L | 11–24.3 mcmol/L |
| Cortisol: | |||
| * 1 h after cosyntropin | Serum | > 18 mcg/dL and usually ≥ 8 mcg/dL above baseline | > 498 nmol/L and usually ≥ 221 nmol/L above baseline |
| * At 5 pm | Serum | 3–13 mcg/dL | 83–359 nmol/L |
| * At 8 am | Serum | 8–20 mcg/dL | 251–552 nmol/L |
| * After overnight suppression test | Serum | < 5 mcg/dL | < 138 nmol/L |
| C-peptide | Serum | 0.9–4.3 ng/mL | 297–1419 pmol/L |
| C-reactive protein (CRP) | Serum | < 0.5 mg/dL | < 0.005 g/L |
| C-reactive protein, highly sensitive (hsCRP) | Serum | < 1.1 mg/L | < 0.0011 g/L |
| Creatine kinase (CK) | Serum | 30–170 U/L | 0.5–2.83 mckat/L |
| Creatinine | Serum | 0.7–1.3 mg/dL | 61.9–115 mcmol/L |
| d-Dimer | Plasma | ≤ 300 ng/mL | ≤ 300 mcg/L |
| Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S): | |||
| * Females | Plasma | 0.6–3.3 mg/mL | 1.6–8.9 mcmol/L |
| * Males | Plasma | 1.3–5.5 mg/mL | 3.5–14.9 mcmol/L |
| Delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) | Serum | 15–23 mcg/L | 1.14–1.75 mcmol/L |
| 11-Deoxycortisol (DOC): | |||
| * After metyrapone | Plasma | > 7 mcg/dL | > 203 nmol/L |
| * Basal | Plasma | < 5 mcg/dL | < 145 nmol/L |
| d-Xylose level 2 h after ingestion of 25 g of d-xylose | Serum | > 20 mg/dL | > 1.3 nmol/L |
| Epinephrine, supine | Plasma | < 75 ng/L | < 410 pmol/L |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): | |||
| * Females | Blood | 0–20 mm/h | 0–20 mm/h |
| * Males | Blood | 0–15 mm/h | 0–20 mm/h |
| Erythropoietin | Serum | 4.0–18.5 mIU/mL | 4.0–18.5 IU/L |
| Estradiol, females: | |||
| * Day 1–10 of menstrual cycle | Serum | 14–27 pg/mL | 50–100 pmol/L |
| * Day 11–20 of menstrual cycle | Serum | 14–54 pg/mL | 50–200 pmol/L |
| * Day 21–30 of menstrual cycle | Serum | 19–40 pg/mL | 70–150 pmol/L |
| Estradiol, males | Serum | 10–30 pg/mL | 37–110 pmol/L |
| Ferritin: | |||
| * Females | Serum | 30–200 ng/mL | 30–200 mcg/L |
| * Males | Serum | 30–300 ng/mL | 30–300 mcg/L |
| α-Fetoprotein (AFP) | Serum | 0–20 ng/dL | 0–20 pg/L |
| Fibrinogen | Plasma | 150–350 mg/dL | 1.5–3.5 g/L |
| Folate (folic acid): | |||
| * RBC | Blood | 160–855 ng/mL | 362–1937 nmol/L |
| * Serum | Serum | 2.5–20 ng/mL | 5.7–45.3 nmol/L |
| Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), females: | |||
| * Follicular or luteal phase | Serum | 5–20 mU/mL | 5–20 U/L |
| * Midcycle peak | Serum | 30–50 mU/mL | 30–50 U/L |
| * Postmenopausal | Serum | > 35 mU/mL | > 35 U/L |
| Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), adult males | Serum | 5–15 mU/mL | 5–15 U/L |
| Fructosamine | Plasma | 200–285 mol/L | — |
| Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) | Serum | 8–78 U/L | — |
| Gastrin | Serum | 0–180 pg/mL | 0–180 ng/L |
| Globulins: | Serum | 2.5–3.5 g/dL | 25–35 g/L |
| * Alpha-1 globulins | Serum | 0.2–0.4 g/dL | 2–4 g/L |
| * Alpha-2 globulins | Serum | 0.5–0.9 g/dL | 5–9 g/L |
| * Beta globulins | Serum | 0.6–1.1 g/dL | 6–11 g/L |
| * Beta-2 microglobulin | Serum | 0.7–1.8 mcg/mL | — |
| * Gamma globulins | Serum | 0.7–1.7 g/dL | 7–17 g/L |
| Glucose: | |||
| * 2-h postprandial | Plasma | < 140 mg/dL | < 7.8 mmol/L |
| * Fasting | Plasma | 70–105 mg/dL | 3.9–5.8 mmol/L |
| Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) | Blood | 5–15 U/g Hb | 0.32–0.97 mU/ mol Hb |
| γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) | Serum | 8–78 U/L | — |
| Growth hormone: | |||
| * After oral glucose | Plasma | < 2 ng/mL | < 2 mcg/L |
| * In response to provocative stimuli | Plasma | > 7 ng/mL | > 7 mcg/L |
| Haptoglobin | Serum | 30–200 mg/dL | 300–2000 mg/L |
| Hematocrit: | |||
| * Females | Blood | 36–47% | — |
| * Males | Blood | 41–51% | — |
| Hemoglobin: | |||
| * Females | Blood | 12–16 g/dL | 120–160 g/L |
| * Males | Blood | 14–17 g/dL | 140–170 g/L |
| Hemoglobin A1c | Blood | 4.7–8.5% | — |
| Hemoglobin electrophoresis, adults: | |||
| * Hb A1 | Blood | 95–98% | — |
| * Hb A2 | Blood | 2–3% | — |
| * Hb C | Blood | 0% | — |
| * Hb F | Blood | 0.8–2.0% | — |
| * Hb S | Blood | 0% | — |
| Hemoglobin electrophoresis, Hb F in children: | |||
| * Neonate | Blood | 50–80% | — |
| * 1–6 mo | Blood | 8% | — |
| * > 6 mo | Blood | 1–2% | — |
| Homocysteine: | |||
| * Females | Plasma | 0.40–1.89 mg/L | 3–14 mcmol/L |
| * Males | Plasma | 0.54–2.16 mg/L | 4–16 mcmol/L |
| Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), quantitative | Serum | < 5 mIU/mL | — |
| Immunoglobulins: | |||
| * IgA | Serum | 70–300 mg/dL | 0.7–3.0 g/L |
| * IgD | Serum | < 8 mg/dL | < 80 mg/L |
| * IgE | Serum | 0.01–0.04 mg/dL | 0.1–0.4 mg/L |
| * IgG | Serum | 640–1430 mg/dL | 6.4–14.3 g/L |
| * IgG1 | Serum | 280–1020 mg/dL | 2.8–10.2 g/L |
| * IgG2 | Serum | 60–790 mg/dL | 0.6–7.9 g/L |
| * IgG3 | Serum | 14–240 mg/dL | 0.14–2.4 g/L |
| * IgG4 | Serum | 11–330 mg/dL | 0.11–3.3 g/L |
| * IgM | Serum | 20–140 mg/dL | 0.2–1.4 g/L |
| Insulin, fasting | Serum | 1.4–14 mcIU/mL | 10–104 pmol/L |
| International normalized ratio (INR): | |||
| * Therapeutic range (standard intensity therapy) | Plasma | 2.0–3.0 | — |
| * Therapeutic range in patients at higher risk (eg, patients with prosthetic heart valves) | Plasma | 2.5–3.5 | — |
| * Therapeutic range in patients with lupus anticoagulant | Plasma | 3.0–3.5 | — |
| Iron | Serum | 60–160 mcg/dL | 11–29 mcmol/L |
| Iron-binding capacity, total (TIBC) | Serum | 250–460 mcg/dL | 45–82 mcmol/L |
| Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) | Serum | 60–160 U/L | 1–1.67 mckat/L |
| Lactic acid, venous | Blood | 6–16 mg/dL | 0.67–1.8 mmol/L |
| Lactose tolerance test | Plasma | > 15 mg/dL increase in plasma glucose level | > 0.83 mmol/L increase in plasma glucose level |
| Lead | Blood | < 40 mcg/dL | < 1.9 mcmol/L |
| Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) score | Peripheral blood smear | 13–130/100/ polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocyte neutrophils and bands | — |
| Lipase | Serum | < 95 U/L | < 1.58 mckat/L |
| Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] | Serum | ≤ 30 mg/dL | < 1.1 mcmol/L |
| Luteinizing hormone (LH), females: | |||
| * Follicular or luteal phase | Serum | 5–22 mU/mL | 5–22 U/L |
| * Midcycle peak | Serum | 30–250 mU/mL | 30–250 U/L |
| * Postmenopausal | Serum | > 30 mU/mL | > 30 U/L |
| Luteinizing hormone, males | Serum | 3–15 mU/mL | 3–15 U/L |
| Magnesium | Serum | 1.5–2.4 mg/dL | 0.62–0.99 mmol/L |
| Manganese | Serum | 0.3–0.9 ng/mL | 5.5–16.4 nmol/L |
| Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) | Blood | 28–32 pg | — |
| Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) | Blood | 32–36 g/dL | 320–360 g/L |
| Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) | Blood | 80–100 fL | — |
| Metanephrines, fractionated: | |||
| * Metanephrines, free | Plasma | < 0.50 nmol/L | — |
| * Normetanephrines, free | Plasma | < 0.90 nmol/L | — |
| Methemoglobin | Blood | < 1.0% | — |
| Methylmalonic acid (MMA) | Serum | 150–370 nmol/L | — |
| Myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibodies | Serum | < 6.0 U/mL | — |
| Myoglobin: | |||
| * Females | Serum | 25–58 mcg/L | 1.4–3.5 nmol/L |
| * Males | Serum | 28–72 mcg/L | 1.6–4.1 nmol/L |
| Norepinephrine, supine | Plasma | 50–440 pg/mL | 0.3–2.6 nmol/L |
| N-Terminal propeptide of BNP (NT-proBNP) | Plasma | < 125 pg/mL | — |
| 5′-Nucleotidase (5’NT) | Serum | 4–11.5 U/L | — |
| Osmolality | Plasma | 275–295 mOsm/kg H2O | 275–295 mmol/ kg H2O |
| Osmotic fragility test | Blood | Increased fragility if hemolysis occurs in > 0.5% sodium chloride
Decreased fragility if hemolysis is incomplete in 0.3% sodium chloride |
— |
| Oxygen partial pressure (PO2) | Blood | 80–100 mm Hg | — |
| Parathyroid hormone (PTH) | Serum | 10–65 pg/mL | 10–65 ng/L |
| Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) | Plasma | < 2.0 pmol/L | — |
| Partial thromboplastin time, activated (aPTT) | Plasma | 25–35 sec | — |
| pH | Blood | 7.38–7.44 | — |
| Phosphorus, inorganic | Serum | 3.0–4.5 mg/dL | 0.97–1.45 mmol/L |
| Platelet count | Blood | 150–350 x 103/mcL | 150–350 x 109/L |
| Platelet life span, using chromium-51 (51Cr) | — | 8–12 days | — |
| Porphyrins | Plasma | ≤ 1.0 mcg/dL | — |
| Potassium | Serum | 3.5–5 mEq/L | 3.5–5 mmol/L |
| Prealbumin (transthyretin) | Serum | 18–45 mg/dL | — |
| Progesterone: | |||
| * Follicular phase | Serum | < 1 ng/mL | < 0.03 nmol/L |
| * Luteal phase | Serum | 3–30 ng/mL | 0.1–0.95 nmol/L |
| Prolactin: | |||
| * Females (non-pregnant) | Serum | < 20 mcg/L | < 870 pmol/L |
| * Males | Serum | < 15 mcg/L | < 652 pmol/L |
| Prostate-specific antigen, total (PSA-T) | Serum | 0–4 ng/mL | — |
| Prostate-specific antigen, ratio of free to total (PSA-F:PSA-T) | Serum | > 0.25 | — |
| Protein C activity | Plasma | 67–131% | — |
| Protein C resistance, activated ratio (APC-R) | Plasma | 2.2–2.6 | — |
| Protein S activity | Plasma | 82–144% | — |
| Protein, total | Serum | 6–7.8 g/dL | 60–78 g/L |
| Prothrombin time (PT) | Plasma | 11–13 sec | — |
| Pyruvic acid | Blood | 0.08–0.16 mmol/L | — |
| RBC count | Blood | 4.2–5.9 x 106 cells/mcL | 4.2–5.9 x 1012 cells/L |
| RBC survival rate, using 51Cr | Blood | T1/2 = 28 days | — |
| Renin activity, plasma (PRA), upright, in males and females aged 18–39 yr: | |||
| * Sodium-depleted | Plasma | 2.9–24 ng/mL/h | — |
| * Sodium-repleted | Plasma | 0.6 (or lower)–4.3 ng/mL/h | — |
| Reticulocyte count: | |||
| * Percentage | Blood | 0.5–1.5% | — |
| * Absolute | Blood | 23–90 x 103/mcL | 23–90 x 109/L |
| Rheumatoid factor (RF), by nephelometry | Serum | < 40 U/mL | < 40 kU/L |
| Sodium | Serum | 136–145 mEq/L | 136–145 mmol/L |
| Testosterone (total), adults: | |||
| * Females | Serum | 20–75 ng/dL | 0.7–2.6 nmol/L |
| * Males | Serum | 300–1200 ng/dL | 10–42 nmol/L |
| Thrombin time | Plasma | 18.5–24 sec | — |
| Thyroid iodine-123 (123I) uptake | — | 5–30% of administered dose at 24 h | — |
| Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) | Serum | 0.5–5.0 mcIU/mL | 0.5–5.0 mIU/L |
| Thyroxine (T4): | |||
| * Free | Serum | 0.9–2.4 ng/dL | 12–31 pmol/L |
| * Free index | — | 4–11 | — |
| * Total | Serum | 5–12 mcg/dL | 64–155 nmol/L |
| Transferrin | Serum | 212–360 mg/dL | 2.1–3.6 g/L |
| Transferrin saturation | Serum | 20–50% | — |
| Triglycerides (fasting) | Serum | < 250 mg/dL | < 2.82 mmol/L |
| Triiodothyronine (T3): | |||
| * Uptake | Serum | 25–35% | — |
| * Total | Serum | 70–195 ng/dL | 1.1–3.0 nmol/L |
| Troponin I | Plasma | < 0.1 ng/mL | < 0.1 mcg/L |
| Troponin T | Serum | ≤ 0.03 ng/mL | ≤ 0.03 mcg/L |
| Urea nitrogen (BUN) | Serum | 8–20 mg/dL | 2.9–7.1 mmol/L |
| Uric acid | Serum | 2.5–8 mg/dL | 0.15–0.47 mmol/L |
| Vitamin B12 | Serum | 200–800 pg/mL | 148–590 pmol/L |
| Vitamin C (ascorbic acid): | |||
| * Leukocyte | Blood | < 20 mg/dL | < 1136 mcmol/L |
| * Total | Blood | 0.4–1.5 mg/dL | 23–85 mcmol/L |
| Vitamin D: | |||
| * 1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol (calcitriol) | Serum | 25–65 pg/mL | 65–169 pmol/L |
| * 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol | Serum | 15–80 ng/mL | 37–200 nmol/L |
| WBC count | Blood | 4.5–11 x 103 cells/mcL | 4.5–11 x 109 cells/L |
| Segmented neutrophils | 2.6–8.5 x 103 cells/mcL | 2.6–8.5 x 109 cells/L | |
| Band neutrophils | 0–1.2 x 103 cells/mcL | 0–1.2 x 109 cells/L | |
| Lymphocytes | 0.77–4.5 x 103 cells/mcL | 0.77–4.5 x 109 cells/L | |
| Monocytes | 0.14–1.3 x 103 cells/mcL | 0.14–1.3 x 109 cells/L | |
| Eosinophils | 0–0.55 x 103 cells/mcL | 0–0.55 x 109 cells/L | |
| Basophils | 0–0.22 x 103 cells/mcL | 0–0.22 x 109 cells/L | |
| Zinc | Serum | 66–110 mcg/dL | 10.1–16.8 mcmol/L |
- Test values are method dependent
- Test values vary with age
- Test values are diet-dependent
