Lab Values

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Course Objectives
  •  Explain what laboratory values are and why they are important in patient care
  • Identify and describe common laboratory values
  • Recognize common abnormal laboratory findings and understand their potential clinical significance
  • Describe how phlebotomy and specimen-handling practices can affect laboratory results
Course Content
Course Creator: Kirsten Hermens, NCMA-P
Total CE Hours: 1 CEU
Pace Course #: 586-2307-24

 
Key Terms: 
Laboratory value 
Reference range 
Anion gap 
Arterial blood gas (ABG) 
Hemolysis 
Additive carryover 
Preanalytical error 
Specimen integrity 
Specific gravity 
 
Outline: 
  1. Introduction 
  2. Key terms
    1. What lab values mean 
    2. What reference ranges mean
    3.  Why specimen quality matters 
  3. Basic blood components
    1. Plasma
    2.  Serum
    3.  Plasma proteins
    4.  Formed elements
  4. Complete blood count (CBC)
    1. Red blood cells
    2.  White blood cells
    3.  Hemoglobin
    4.  Hematocrit
    5.  Platelets
    6.  Iron studies
  5. Coagulation studies
    1. PT/INR
    2.  aPTT 
      1. Collection considerations
  6. Cardiac and metabolic markers
    1. Troponin
    2.  BNP
    3.  Lactate
    4.  Anion gap 
  7. Arterial blood gases 
    1. Oxygenation
    2.  Ventilation 
    3. Acid–base balance 
      1. Specimen handling
  8. Chemistry tests
    1. The basic metabolic panel
    2.  Electrolytes
    3.  Glucose
    4.  Calcium
    5.  Creatinine
    6.  BUN
  9. Liver tests and urinalysis
    1. Common measurements
    2.  Common findings 
    3. Specimen requirements
  10. Factors affecting results
    1. Collection errors
    2.  Labeling errors
    3.  Handling errors
    4.  Transport errors
    5.  Other sources of error
  11. Conclusion
 
References:
 
  1. American Society of Hematology. (2025). Blood basics. https://www.hematology.org/education/patients/blood-basics
  2. National Library of Medicine. (2023). Blood. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/blood.html
  3. LibreTexts. (2025, March 13). 8.6: Blood plasma. Medicine LibreTexts. https://med.libretexts.org/Courses/Southern_Illinois_University_Edwardsville/Essentials_of_Physiology_for_Nurse_Anesthetists_I_(Gopalan)/08%3A_The_Blood/8.06%3A_Blood_Plasma
  4. Irish, P. (2011, December 8). Complete blood count with automated differential [Photograph]. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/paul_irish/6474235835
  5. National Library of Medicine. (2024, October 7). Red blood cell (RBC) count. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/red-blood-cell-rbc-count/
  6. National Library of Medicine. (2024, October 15). Complete blood count (CBC). MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/complete-blood-count-cbc/
  7. National Library of Medicine. (2024, October 9). Blood differential. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/blood-differential/
  8. National Library of Medicine. (2024, August 6). White blood count (WBC). MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/white-blood-count-wbc/
  9. Cleveland Clinic. (2025). Thrombocytosis: Symptoms, causes & treatment. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/13350-thrombocytosis
  10. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2025, February 18). Thrombocytopenia. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/thrombocytopenia
  11. National Library of Medicine. (2026, July 14). Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) test. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/partial-thromboplastin-time-ptt-test/
  12. National Library of Medicine. (2024, May 15). Prothrombin time test and INR (PT/INR). MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/prothrombin-time-test-and-inr-ptinr/
  13. National Library of Medicine. (2023, October 30). Troponin test. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/troponin-test/
  14. Nohria, R. (2024). Acute coronary syndrome: Diagnosis and initial management. American Family Physician. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2024/0100/acute-coronary-syndrome
  15. National Library of Medicine. (2023, December 4). Natriuretic peptide tests (BNP, NT-proBNP). MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/natriuretic-peptide-tests-bnp-nt-probnp/
  16. National Library of Medicine. (2024, October 27). Anion gap blood test. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/anion-gap-blood-test/
  17. National Library of Medicine. (2025, June 26). Arterial blood gas (ABG) test. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/arterial-blood-gas-abg-test/
  18. National Library of Medicine. (2024, September 10). Basic metabolic panel (BMP). MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/basic-metabolic-panel-bmp/
  19. National Library of Medicine. (2024). Liver function tests. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003436.htm
  20. Cleveland Clinic. (2024, July 3). Urinalysis. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/17893-urinalysis
  21. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 14). Reference tool to determine hemolysis status. https://www.cdc.gov/vector-borne-diseases/php/laboratories/reference-tool-for-hemolysis-status.htm

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