Pediatric Self-Assessment Program
®
REFERENCE VALUES FOR COMMON LABORATORY TESTS
1
R
EFERENCE
V
ALUES FOR
C
OMMON
L
ABORATORY
T
ESTS
a
Serum Chemistries
Reference Range
Albumin
Premature 1 day
1.8–3 g/dL
Full-term < 6 days
2.5–3.9 g/dL
8 days–1 year
1.9–4.9 g/dL
1–3 years
3.4–5.2 g/dL
4–19 years
3.5–5.6 g/dL
Ammonia
Newborn – Child
Adult
29-150 mcg/dL
15–60 mcg/dL
Amylase
1–19 years
30–100 units/L
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
≤ 7 days
6–40 units/L
8–30 days:
Male
10 to 40 units/L
Female
8–32 units/L
1–12 months
12–45 units/L
1–19 years
5–55 units/L
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
1-12 months
150-420 units/L
1–9 years
100–420 units/L
10–11 years
140–560 units/L
12–13 years:
Male
100–495 units/L
Female
100–420 units/L
14–15 years:
Male
100–525 units/L
Female
70–320 units/L
16–19 years:
Male
65–260 units/L
Female
50–320 units/L
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
Newborn ≤ 7 days:
Male
30–150 units/L
Female
24–150 units/L
8 days – < 12 months
9–80 units/L
1–3 years
20–60 units/L
3–9 years
15–50 units/L
10–15 years
10–40 units/L
16–19 years:
Male
15–45 units/L
Female
5 to 30 units/L
Bilirubin, direct
Newborn
< 0.6 mg/dL
≥ 1 month
< 0.2 mg/dL
Bilirubin, total
Cord blood
< 2 mg/dL
Premature < 6 days
< 16 mg/dL
Full-term < 6 days
< 12 mg/dL
1 month– < 12 months
< 2 mg/dL
1–19 years
< 1.5 mg/dL
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
All ages
2–20 mg/dL
Calcium, ionized
Cord blood
5–6 mg/dL
Newborn 3–24 hours
4.3–5.1 mg/dL
Newborn 24–38 hours
4–4.7 mg/dL
≥ 2 days
4.8–4.92 mg/dL
Calcium, total serum
Cord blood
9.5–11.5 mg/dL
Newborn 3–24 hours
9–10.6 mg/dL
Newborn 24–48 hours
7–12 mg/dL
4–7 days
6.7–10.9 mg/dL
Child
8.8–10.8 mg/dL
Adolescent–Adult
8.4–10.2 mg/dL
Carbon dioxide (venous) (CO
2
)
All ages
20–30 mEq/L
Chloride (Cl)
All ages
95–108 mEq/L
C-reactive protein (CRP)
All ages
< 0.8 mg/dL
Creatine kinase (CK)
Cord blood
70–380 units/L
Newborn 5–8 hours
214–1175 units/L
Newborn 24–33 hours
130–1200 units/L
Newborn 72–100 hours
87–1578 units/L
Adult
5–200 units/L
Creatinine, serum (SCr)
Cord blood
0.6–1.2 mg/dL
Newborn
0.3–1 mg/dL
Child
0.3–0.7 mg/dL
Adolescent
0.5–1 mg/dL
Adult male
0.9–1.2 mg/dL
Adult female
0.6-1.1 mg/dL
Creatinine (clearance) (CrCl)
All ages
90–140 mL/minute/1.73 m
2
γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)
Newborn– < 2 months
2– < 4 months
4 months – 19 years
Adult
Glucose, serum
Cord blood
Premature
Newborn 1 day
Newborn > 1 day
Child
Adult
Hemoglobin A1C (A1C)
All ages
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
Newborn
1 month – < 1 year
1–9 years
10–19 years
1–19 years
< 1.5 mg/dL
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
All ages
2–20 mg/dL
Calcium, ionized
Cord blood
5–6 mg/dL
Newborn 3–24 hours
4.3–5.1 mg/dL
Newborn 24–38 hours
4–4.7 mg/dL
≥ 2 days
4.8–4.92 mg/dL
Calcium, total serum
Cord blood
9.5–11.5 mg/dL
Newborn 3–24 hours
9–10.6 mg/dL
Newborn 24–48 hours
7–12 mg/dL
4–7 days
6.7–10.9 mg/dL
Child
8.8–10.8 mg/dL
Adolescent–Adult
8.4–10.2 mg/dL
Carbon dioxide (venous) (CO
2
)
All ages
20–30 mEq/L
Chloride (Cl)
All ages
95–108 mEq/L
C-reactive protein (CRP)
All ages
< 0.8 mg/dL
Creatine kinase (CK)
Cord blood
70–380 units/L
Newborn 5–8 hours
214–1175 units/L
Newborn 24–33 hours
130–1200 units/L
Newborn 72–100 hours
87–1578 units/L
Adult
5–200 units/L
Creatinine, serum (SCr)
Cord blood
0.6–1.2 mg/dL
Newborn
0.3–1 mg/dL
Child
0.3–0.7 mg/dL
Adolescent
0.5–1 mg/dL
Adult male
0.9–1.2 mg/dL
Adult female
0.6-1.1 mg/dL
Creatinine (clearance) (CrCl)
All ages
90–140 mL/minute/1.73 m
2
γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)
Newborn– < 2 months
12–147 units/L
2– < 4 months
8–90 units/L
4 months – 19 years
5–32 units/L
Adult
7-49 units/L
Glucose, serum
Cord blood
45–96 mg/dL
Premature
20–60 mg/dL
Newborn 1 day
40–60 mg/dL
Newborn > 1 day
50–90 mg/dL
Child
60–100 mg/dL
Adult
70–105 mg/dL
Hemoglobin A1C (A1C)
All ages
4%–6%
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
Newborn
180–2000 units/L
1 month – < 1 year
170–580 units/L
1–9 years
110–500 units/L
10–19 years
100–330 units/L
a
Values given in this table are commonly accepted reference ranges compiled from many sources. Paent-specic
goals may dier depending on age, sex, clinical condion, and the laboratory methodology used to perform the
assay.
Informaon from: Pediatric and Neonatal Dosage Handbook, 21st ed. Hudson, Ohio: Lexicomp, 2014; AMA Man-
ual of Style, 10th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007; Ayers P, Warrington L. Diagnosis and treatment
of simple acid-base disorders. Nutr Clin Pract 2008;23:122-7; DiPiro JT, Talbert RL, Yee GC, et al., eds. Pharma-
cotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach, 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical, 2011; Lee M. Basic Skills in
Interpreng Laboratory Data, 4th ed. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 2009; and
MUSC Health, Laboratory Services. Test Directory and Specimen Collecon Handbook. Charleston, SC: MUSC
Pathology and Laboratory Services, 2008–2009; The Harriet Lane Handbook, 21st ed. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
Elsevier, 2018.
Lipase
1–18 years
3–216 units/L
Magnesium
All ages
1.5–2.5 mEq/L
Osmolality, serum
All ages
266–295 mOsm/kg
Phosphorus (inorganic) (PO
4
)
Newborn 0–5 days
4.5–9 mg/dL
1–3 years
3.8–6.5 mg/dL
4–11 years
3.2–5.8 mg/dL
12–15 years
2.9–5.4 mg/dL
16–19 years
2.4–4.7 mg/dL
Potassium (K)
Newborn
3.7–7.2 mEq/L
1– < 3 months
4.0–6.2 mEq/L
3 months–1 year
3.4–5.6 mEq/L
1–16 years
3.5–5.1 mEq/L
Prealbumin
> 1 month
8–42 mg/dL
Sodium (Na)
All ages
130–147 mEq/L
Transferrin saturation
All ages
10–50%
Uric acid, serum
Newborn–14 years
1–7 mg/dL
Hematology
Age
Hemoglobin
(g/dL)
Hematocrit
(%)
RBC
(
×
10
6
cells/mm
3
)
MCV
(fL)
MCH
(pg/cell)
MCHC
(g/dL)
Plt
(mm
3
)
WBC
(× 10
3
cells/mm
3
)
≤ 30
days
15–24
44–70
4–5.5
99–
115
33–39
30–36
84–
478
a
9.1–34
1–23
mo
10.5–14
32–42
72–
88
24–30
150–
450
6–17
2–9 yr
11.5–14.5
33–43
76–
90
25–31
4–15.5
10–17
yr
(male)
12.5–16.1
36–47
78–
95
26–32
4–13.5
10–17
yr
(female)
12–15
35–45
78–
95
26–32
≥ 18 yr
(male)
13.5–18
42–52
78–
100
27–31
≥ 18 yr
(female)
12.5–16
37–47
78–
100
27–31
a
Value for ages 0–7 days; for age > 7 days, similar to range for all patient ages.
Lipase
1–18 years
3–216 units/L
Magnesium
All ages
1.5–2.5 mEq/L
Osmolality, serum
All ages
266–295 mOsm/kg
Phosphorus (inorganic) (PO
4
)
Newborn 0–5 days
4.5–9 mg/dL
1–3 years
3.8–6.5 mg/dL
4–11 years
3.2–5.8 mg/dL
12–15 years
2.9–5.4 mg/dL
16–19 years
2.4–4.7 mg/dL
Potassium (K)
Newborn
3.7–7.2 mEq/L
1– < 3 months
4.0–6.2 mEq/L
3 months–1 year
3.4–5.6 mEq/L
1–16 years
3.5–5.1 mEq/L
Prealbumin
> 1 month
8–42 mg/dL
Sodium (Na)
All ages
130–147 mEq/L
Transferrin saturation
All ages
10–50%
Uric acid, serum
Newborn–14 years
1–7 mg/dL
Hematology
Age
Hemoglobin
(g/dL)
Hematocrit
(%)
RBC
(
×
10
6
cells/mm
3
)
MCV
(fL)
MCH
(pg/cell)
MCHC
(g/dL)
Plt
(mm
3
)
WBC
(× 10
3
cells/mm
3
)
≤ 30
days
15–24
44–70
4–5.5
99–
115
33–39
30–36
84–
478
a
9.1–34
1–23
mo
10.5–14
32–42
72–
88
24–30
150–
450
6–17
2–9 yr
11.5–14.5
33–43
76–
90
25–31
4–15.5
10–17
yr
(male)
12.5–16.1
36–47
78–
95
26–32
4–13.5
10–17
yr
(female)
12–15
35–45
78–
95
26–32
≥ 18 yr
(male)
13.5–18
42–52
78–
100
27–31
≥ 18 yr
(female)
12.5–16
37–47
78–
100
27–31
a
Value for ages 0–7 days; for age > 7 days, similar to range for all patient ages.
Blood Gases
Arterial
Capillary
Venous
pH
7.35–7.45
7.35–7.45
7.32–7.42
Partial pressure of
carbon dioxide
(P
CO
2
)
32–48 mm Hg
35–45 mm Hg
38–52 mm Hg
Partial pressure of
oxygen (P
O
2
)
70–108 mm Hg
60–80 mm Hg
24–48 mm Hg
Oxygen saturation
(Sa
O
2
)
90–95%
90–95%
40–70%
Serum bicarbonate
(HCO
3
)
19–28 mEq/L
19–25 mEq/L
19–25 mEq/L
a
Values given in this table are commonly accepted reference ranges compiled from many sources. Patient-specific goals may
differ depending on age, sex, clinical condition, and the laboratory methodology used to perform the assay.
Information from: Pediatric and Neonatal Dosage Handbook, 21st ed. Hudson, Ohio: Lexicomp, 2014; AMA Manual of Style,
10th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007; Ayers P, Warrington L. Diagnosis and treatment of simple acid-base
disorders. Nutr Clin Pract 2008;23:122-7; DiPiro JT, Talbert RL, Yee GC, et al., eds. Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic
Approach, 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical, 2011; Lee M. Basic Skills in Interpreting Laboratory Data, 4th ed.
Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 2009; and MUSC Health, Laboratory Services. Test Directory
and Specimen Collection Handbook. Charleston, SC: MUSC Pathology and Laboratory Services, 2008–2009; The Harriet Lane
Handbook, 21st ed. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Elsevier, 2018.