{"id":20503,"date":"2025-08-06T12:00:32","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T12:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/qa\/?page_id=20503"},"modified":"2025-08-08T07:38:05","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T07:38:05","slug":"normal-lab-values","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/qa\/factsheets\/normal-lab-values","title":{"rendered":"Guide to results of laboratory tests"},"content":{"rendered":"

All test have a reference range as a guide for normal results.<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, the range might sometimes vary depending on different factors, including the manufacturer of the test.<\/p>\n

Some tests have different ranges for women compared to men. There is limited or no data on the ranges for transgender and non-binary people who are using gender affirming hormones. See: Laboratory tests with gender-specific reference ranges (excluding hormones) PDF<\/a> (NHS Lothian March 2020) and Laboratory Monitoring in Transgender People<\/a> (Association for Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine September 2020) [1, 2]<\/p>\n

Target ranges can also be adjusted for age in children and adolescents and as we get older. Sometimes the time of day when you take the sample is also important.<\/p>\n

Please ask your doctor to explain any results that are either higher or lower than the target range.<\/p>\n

The table from 2003 was produced by the late US activist Bob Munk<\/a> for the New Mexico AIDSInfonet to explain different US vs EU units. It was modified for UK use. Original PDF version<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Lab test<\/th>\nNormal range
\n(US units)<\/th>\n		Normal range
\n(UK SI units)<\/th>\n		To convert US to SI units<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
ALT (alanine aminotransferase)<\/th>\n♀ 7-30 units\/L<\/td>\n♀ 0.12-0.50 \u00b5kat\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.01667<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
♂ 10-55 units\/L<\/td>\n♂ 0.17-0.92 \u00b5kat\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Albumin<\/th>\n3.1 – 4.3 g\/dL<\/td>\n31 – 43 g\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ALP (alkaline phosphatase)<\/th>\n♀ 30-100 units\/L<\/td>\n♀ 0.5-1.67 \u00b5kat\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.01667<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
♂ 45-115 units\/L<\/td>\n♂ 0.75-1.92 \u00b5kat\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amylase (serum)<\/th>\n53-123 units\/L<\/td>\n0.88-2.05 nkat\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.01667<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)<\/th>\n♀ 9-25 units\/L<\/td>\n♀ 0.15-0.42 \u00b5kat\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.01667<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
♂ 10-40 units\/L<\/td>\n♂0.17-0.67 \u00b5kat\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Basophils<\/th>\n\u00a00-3% of lymphocytes<\/td>\n0.0-0.03 fraction of white blood cells<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.01<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bilirubin – direct<\/th>\n0.0-0.4 mg\/dL<\/td>\n0-7 \u00b5mol\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 17.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bilirubin – total<\/th>\n0.0-1.0 mg\/dL<\/td>\n0-17 \u00b5mol\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
C peptide<\/th>\n0.5-2.0 ng\/mL<\/td>\n0.17-0.66 nmol\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.33<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Calcium, serum<\/th>\n8.5-10.5 mg\/dL<\/td>\n2.1-2.6 mmol\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Calcium, urine<\/th>\n0-300 mg\/24hr<\/td>\n0.0-7.5 mmol\/24hr<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cholesterol: total<\/th>\n\u00d70.02586<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Desirable<\/th>\n<200 mg\/dL<\/td>\n<5.17 mmol\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marginal<\/th>\n200\u2013239 mg\/dL<\/td>\n5.17\u20136.18 mmol\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
High<\/th>\n>239 mg\/dL<\/td>\n>6.18 mmol\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cholesterol: LDL (bad)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Desirable<\/th>\n<100 mg\/dL<\/td>\n<2.59 mmol\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marginal<\/th>\n100\u2013159 mg\/dL<\/td>\n2.59\u20134.14 mmol\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
High<\/th>\n160\u2013189 mg\/dL<\/td>\n4.14\u20134.89 mmol\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Very High<\/th>\n>190 mg\/dL<\/td>\n>4.91 mmol\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cholesterol: HDL<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Low (heart risk)<\/th>\n<40<\/td>\n<1.03<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Moderate<\/th>\n40\u201360<\/td>\n1.03\u20131.55<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Good (protective)<\/th>\n>60<\/td>\n>1.55<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cortisol: serum<\/th>\n0-25 \u00b5g\/dL (depends on time of day)<\/td>\n0-690 nmol\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 27.59<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cortisol: free (urine)<\/th>\n20-70 \u00b5g\/dL<\/td>\n55-193 nmol\/24hr<\/td>\n\u00d7 2.759<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Creatine kinase<\/th>\n♂ 60-400 units\/L<\/td>\n♂ 1.00-6.67 \u00b5kat\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.01667<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
♀ 40-150 units\/L<\/td>\n♀ 0.67-2.50 \u00b5kat\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DHEA<\/th>\n♂ 180-1250 ng\/dL<\/td>\n♂ 6.24-43.3 nmol\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.03467<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
♀ 130-980 ng\/dL<\/td>\n♀ 4.5-34.0 nmol\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DHEA Sulfate<\/th>\n♂ 10-619 \u00b5g\/dL<\/td>\n♂ 100-6190 \u00b5g\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
♀ Pre-menopause:
\n12-535 \u00b5g\/dL<\/td>\n		♀ Pre-menopause:
\n120-5350 \u00b5g\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
♀ Post-menopause:
\n30-260 \u00b5g\/dL<\/td>\n		♀ Post-menopause:
\n300-2600 \u00b5g\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eosinophils<\/th>\n0-8% of white blood cells<\/td>\n0.0-0.8 fraction of white blood cells<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.01<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Folate<\/th>\n3.1-17.5 ng\/mL<\/td>\n7.0-39.7 nmol\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 2.266<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Glucose, urine<\/th>\n<0.05 g\/dL<\/td>\n<0.003 mmol\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.05551<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Glucose, plasma<\/th>\n70-110 mg\/dL<\/td>\n3.9-6.1 mmol\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hematocrit<\/th>\n♂ 37.0% – 49.0% of red blood cells<\/td>\n♂ 0.37-0.49 fraction of red blood cells<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.01<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
♀ 36.0% – 46.0% of red blood cells<\/td>\n♀ 0.36-0.46 fraction of red blood cells<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hemoglobin<\/th>\n♂ 13.0-18.0 g\/dL<\/td>\n♂ 8.1-11.2 mmol\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.6206<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
♀ 12.0-16.0 g\/dL<\/td>\n♀ 7.4-9.9 mmol\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lactic acid<\/th>\n0.5-2.2 mmol\/L<\/td>\n0.5-2.2 mmol\/L<\/td>\nNo conversion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Leukocytes (WBC)<\/th>\n4.5-11.0×103<\/sup>\/mm3<\/sup><\/td>\n4.5-11.0×109<\/sup>\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 106<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lymphocytes<\/th>\n16-46% of white blood cells<\/td>\n0.16-0.46 fraction of white blood cells<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.01<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)<\/th>\n25.0-35.0 pg\/cell<\/td>\n25.0-35.0 pg\/cell<\/td>\nNo conversion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)<\/th>\n31.0-37.0 g\/dL<\/td>\n310-370 g\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)<\/th>\n♂ 78-100 \u00b5m3<\/sup><\/td>\n♂ 78-100 fl<\/td>\nNo conversion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
♀ 78-102 \u00b5m3<\/sup><\/td>\n♀ 78-102 fl<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Monocytes<\/th>\n4-11% of white blood cells<\/td>\n0.04-0.11 fraction of white blood cells<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.01<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Neutrophils<\/th>\n45-75% of white blood cells<\/td>\n0.45-0.75 fraction of white blood cells<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.01<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Potassium<\/th>\n3.4-5.0 mmol\/L<\/td>\n3.4-5.0 mmol\/L<\/td>\nNo conversion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sodium<\/th>\n135-145 mmol\/L<\/td>\n135-145 mmol\/L<\/td>\nNo conversion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Testosterone (Total) morning sample [3]<\/th>\n♂ 250\u2013836 ng\/dL<\/td>\n♂ 8.7\u201329.0 nmol\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.03467<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
♀ 6-86 ng\/dL<\/td>\n♀ Age
\n20\u201349: 0.29\u20131.67, Age 50+: 0.1\u20131.42<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Testosterone (Free\/Unbound) [3]<\/th>\nAge 20\u201340
\n♂ 15.0-40.0, ♀ 0.6-3.1 pg\/mL<\/td>\n		Age 20\u201340
\n♂ 520-1387, ♀ 20.8-107.5 pmol\/L<\/td>\n		\u00d7 34.67<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Age 41\u201360
\n♂ 13.0-35.0, ♀ 0.4-2.5 pg\/mL<\/td>\n		Age 41\u201360
\n♂ 451-1213, ♀ 13.9-86.7 pmol\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Age 61\u201380
\n♂ 12.0-28.0, ♀ 0.2-2.0 pg\/mL<\/td>\n		Age 61\u201380
\n♂ 416-971, ♀ 6.9-69.3 pmol\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Triglycerides (fasting)<\/th>\n\u00d7 0.01129<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Normal<\/th>\n40-150 mg\/dL<\/td>\n0.45-1.69 mmol\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Borderline<\/th>\n150-200 mg\/dL<\/td>\n1.69 – 2.26 mmol\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
High<\/th>\n200-500 mg\/dL<\/td>\n2.26 – 5.65 mmol\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Very High<\/th>\n>500 mg\/dL<\/td>\n>5.65 mmol\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Urea, plasma (BUN)<\/th>\n8-25 mg\/dL<\/td>\n2.9-8.9 mmol\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 0.357<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Urinalysis<\/th>\nn\/a<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
pH<\/th>\n5.0-9.0<\/td>\n5.0-9.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Specific gravity<\/th>\n1.001-1.035<\/td>\n1.001-1.035<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WBC (White blood cells, Leukocytes)<\/th>\n4.5-11.0×103<\/sup>\/mm3<\/sup><\/td>\n4.5-11.0×109<\/sup>\/L<\/td>\n\u00d7 106<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

This online paper also includes normal ranges of other CD counts including CD3, CD19and CD56: journals.asm.org\/doi\/pdf\/10.1128\/cvi.00476-12<\/a> (PDF)<\/p>\n

Terminology:<\/strong> some units of measurement include the following fractions and multipliers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
mega (M): <\/strong>109<\/sup> or x1,000,000<\/td>\nmilli (m): <\/strong>10-3<\/sup> or \u00f71,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
kilo (k):<\/strong> 103<\/sup> or x1,000<\/td>\nmicro (\u00b5):<\/strong> 10-6<\/sup> or \u00f71,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
deca or deka:<\/strong> 101<\/sup> or x10<\/td>\nnano (n): <\/strong>10-9<\/sup> or \u00f71,000,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
deci (d): <\/strong>10-1<\/sup> or \u00f710<\/td>\npico (p):<\/strong> 10-12<\/sup> or \u00f71,000,000,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

L:<\/strong> litre.<\/p>\n

gram:<\/strong> common measurement of weight.\u00a0 Used in this table: pg (picograms), g (grams), mg (milligrams), etc. per liter<\/p>\n

katal (kat):<\/strong> a unit of catalytic activity, used especially in the chemistry of enzymes.\u00a0 Used in this table: \u00b5kat (microkatals), nkat (nanokatals) per liter<\/p>\n

micrometer (\u00b5m): <\/strong>a unit of\u00a0 length. Mean Corpuscular Volume is expressed in cubic micrometers<\/p>\n

mole:<\/strong> also gram molecular weight, a quantity based on the atomic weight of the substance.\u00a0 Many test results in the Syst\u00e9me Internationale are expressed as the number of moles per litre. In US units, these measurements are usually in grams per litre.\u00a0 Used in this table: mmol (millimoles), \u00b5mol, (micromoles), nmol (nanomoles), pmol (picomoles) per litre.<<\/p>\n

References<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Laboratory tests with gender-specific reference ranges (excluding hormones)
    \nNHS Lothian Laboratories (March 2020).
    \napps.nhslothian.scot\/files\/sites\/2\/Gender-specific-reference-ranges-for-blood-tests-1.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Association for Diagnostics and Laboratory Measurments (ADLM). Laboratory Monitoring in Transgender People: Quality care depends on understanding interactions among hormones and pharmacotherapies. (01 Sep 2020).
    \n    www.myadlm.org\/cln\/articles\/2020\/september\/laboratory-monitoring-in-transgender-people<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Smith J. What\u2019s the difference between total and free testosterone? (June 2024)
    \n    www.medichecks.com\/blogs\/testosterone\/what-s-the-difference-between-total-and-free-testosterone#what-is-testosterone<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    All test have a reference range as a guide for normal results. However, the range might sometimes vary depending on different factors, including the manufacturer of the test. Some tests have different ranges for women compared to men. There is …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":7201,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-20503","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/qa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/qa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/qa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/qa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/qa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20503"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/qa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20503\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/qa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/qa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}