Normal Lab Values Cheat Sheet

Clinical Reference Guide: This cheat sheet outlines the typical normal reference ranges for adult blood tests. Reference ranges may vary slightly depending on the laboratory and the specific testing equipment used.

Test / Marker	Normal Reference Range (Adults)	Common Interpretations
Red Blood Cells (RBC)	Male: 4.35 - 5.65 million cells/mcL Female: 3.92 - 5.13 million cells/mcL	Low: Anemia, blood loss. High: Dehydration, erythrocytosis.
White Blood Cells (WBC)	3,400 - 9,600 cells/mcL	Low: Leukopenia, immune issues. High: Infection, inflammation.
Hemoglobin (Hb)	Male: 13.2 - 16.6 g/dL Female: 11.6 - 15.0 g/dL	Low: Anemia (low oxygen carrying). High: Polycythemia, chronic hypoxia.
Hematocrit (Hct)	Male: 38.3% - 48.6% Female: 35.5% - 44.9%	Low: Anemia, nutritional deficiencies. High: Dehydration.
Platelets	150,000 - 450,000/mcL	Low: Thrombocytopenia (bleeding risk). High: Thrombocytosis (clotting risk).

Test / Marker

Normal Reference Range (Adults)

Common Interpretations

Red Blood Cells (RBC)

Male: 4.35 - 5.65 million cells/mcL
Female: 3.92 - 5.13 million cells/mcL

Low: Anemia, blood loss.
High: Dehydration, erythrocytosis.

White Blood Cells (WBC)

3,400 - 9,600 cells/mcL

Low: Leukopenia, immune issues.
High: Infection, inflammation.

Hemoglobin (Hb)

Male: 13.2 - 16.6 g/dL
Female: 11.6 - 15.0 g/dL

Low: Anemia (low oxygen carrying).
High: Polycythemia, chronic hypoxia.

Hematocrit (Hct)

Male: 38.3% - 48.6%
Female: 35.5% - 44.9%

Low: Anemia, nutritional deficiencies.
High: Dehydration.

Platelets

150,000 - 450,000/mcL

Low: Thrombocytopenia (bleeding risk).
High: Thrombocytosis (clotting risk).

Test / Marker	Normal Reference Range (Adults)	Common Interpretations
Fasting Glucose	70 - 99 mg/dL	Low: Hypoglycemia. High: Prediabetes (100-125), Diabetes (≥ 126).
Sodium (Na)	135 - 145 mEq/L	Low: Hyponatremia (fluid retention). High: Hypernatremia (dehydration).
Potassium (K)	3.5 - 5.0 mEq/L	Low: Hypokalemia (diuretics, vomiting). High: Hyperkalemia (kidney issues).
BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)	6 - 20 mg/dL	Low: Malnutrition, liver disease. High: Kidney dysfunction.
Creatinine	Male: 0.74 - 1.35 mg/dL Female: 0.59 - 1.04 mg/dL	Low: Low muscle mass. High: Impaired kidney clearance.
Albumin	3.5 - 5.0 g/dL	Low: Liver disease, malnutrition, inflammation.
Bilirubin (Total)	0.2 - 1.2 mg/dL	High: Jaundice, liver or bile duct obstruction.
ALT / AST	ALT: 7 - 56 U/L AST: 10 - 40 U/L	High: Liver cell inflammation or damage.

Test / Marker

Normal Reference Range (Adults)

Common Interpretations

Fasting Glucose

70 - 99 mg/dL

Low: Hypoglycemia.
High: Prediabetes (100-125), Diabetes (≥ 126).

Sodium (Na)

135 - 145 mEq/L

Low: Hyponatremia (fluid retention).
High: Hypernatremia (dehydration).

Potassium (K)

3.5 - 5.0 mEq/L

Low: Hypokalemia (diuretics, vomiting).
High: Hyperkalemia (kidney issues).

BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)

6 - 20 mg/dL

Low: Malnutrition, liver disease.
High: Kidney dysfunction.

Creatinine

Male: 0.74 - 1.35 mg/dL
Female: 0.59 - 1.04 mg/dL

Low: Low muscle mass.
High: Impaired kidney clearance.

Albumin

3.5 - 5.0 g/dL

Low: Liver disease, malnutrition, inflammation.

Bilirubin (Total)

0.2 - 1.2 mg/dL

High: Jaundice, liver or bile duct obstruction.

ALT / AST

ALT: 7 - 56 U/L
AST: 10 - 40 U/L

High: Liver cell inflammation or damage.

Test / Marker	Normal Reference Range (Adults)	Risk / Interpretation
Total Cholesterol	< 200 mg/dL	Elevated: 200-239 mg/dL High: ≥ 240 mg/dL
LDL ("Bad") Cholesterol	< 100 mg/dL	Optimal: < 100 mg/dL High: 160-189 mg/dL
HDL ("Good") Cholesterol	Male: > 40 mg/dL Female: > 50 mg/dL	Higher is better: Cardioprotective.
Triglycerides	< 150 mg/dL	Borderline: 150-199 mg/dL High: 200-499 mg/dL
TSH (Thyroid)	0.4 - 4.0 mIU/L	Low: Hyperthyroidism. High: Hypothyroidism.
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)	< 5.7%	Prediabetes: 5.7% - 6.4% Diabetes: ≥ 6.5%
hs-CRP (Inflammation)	< 1.0 mg/L	High Risk: > 3.0 mg/L (cardiovascular risk).

Test / Marker

Normal Reference Range (Adults)

Risk / Interpretation

Total Cholesterol

< 200 mg/dL

Elevated: 200-239 mg/dL
High: ≥ 240 mg/dL

LDL ("Bad") Cholesterol

< 100 mg/dL

Optimal: < 100 mg/dL
High: 160-189 mg/dL

HDL ("Good") Cholesterol

Male: > 40 mg/dL
Female: > 50 mg/dL

Higher is better: Cardioprotective.

Triglycerides

< 150 mg/dL

Borderline: 150-199 mg/dL
High: 200-499 mg/dL

TSH (Thyroid)

0.4 - 4.0 mIU/L

Low: Hyperthyroidism.
High: Hypothyroidism.

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)

< 5.7%

Prediabetes: 5.7% - 6.4%
Diabetes: ≥ 6.5%

hs-CRP (Inflammation)

< 1.0 mg/L

High Risk: > 3.0 mg/L (cardiovascular risk).

Medical Disclaimer: This cheat sheet is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding the interpretation of your blood test results.