AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Common Laboratory Values

CBC
Test Normal value Function Significance
Measures oxygen carrying capacity Low: hemorrhage, anemia
Hemoglobin 10.5-18 g/dL
of blood High: polycythemia
Measures relative volume of cells Low: hemorrhage, anemia
Hematocrit 32-52%
and plasma in blood High: polycythemia, dehydration
Measures oxygen-carrying capacity Low: hemorrhage, anemia
Red blood cell 4-6 million/mm3
of blood High: polycythemia, heart disease, pulmonary disease
White blood cell Measures host defense against Low: aplastic anemia, drug toxicity, specific infections
Infant 6,000-14,000/mm3 inflammatory agents High: inflammation, trauma, toxicity, leukemia
4-7 y 4,000-12,000/mm3
8-18 y 4,000-10,500/mm3

Differential Counts
Test Relative counts Absolute counts Significance
Neutrophils (segs) 54-62% 3,000-5,8000/mm3 Increase in bacterial infections, hemorrhage, diabetic acidosis
<1,000/mm3: patient at increased risk for infection – defer elective dental treatment
Neutrophils (bands) 3-5% 150-400/mm3 Increase in bacterial infections, trauma, burns, surgery, acute hemolysis or hemorrhage
Lymphocytes 25-30% 1,500-3,000/mm 3
Viral and bacterial infections, acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, antigen reaction
Eosinophils 1-3% 50-250/mm3 Increase in parasitic and allergic conditions, blood dyscrasias, pernicious anemia
Basophils 0-0.75% 15-50/mm3 Increase in types of blood dyscrasias
Monocytes 3-7% 285-500/mm 3
Hodgkin’s disease, lipid storage disease, recovery from severe infections, monocytic leukemia

Bleeding Screen
Test Normal value Function Significance
Prothrombin 12.7-15.4 sec Measures extrinsic clotting of blood Prolonged in liver disease, impaired Vitamin K production,
time surgical trauma with blood loss
Partial thrombo- By laboratory control Measures intrinsic clotting of blood, Prolonged in hemophilia A, B, and C and Von Willebrand’s
plastin time congenital clotting disorders disease
Platelets 150,000-400,000/mL Measures clotting potential Increased in polycythemia, leukemia, severe hemorrhage; decreased
in thrombocytopenia purpura
Bleeding time (adult) <7.1 min Measures quality of platelets Prolonged in thrombocytopenia
International Without anticoagulant Measures extrinsic clotting Increased with anticoagulant therapy
Normalized therapy: 1; Anticoagulant function
Ratio (INR) therapeutic range: 2-3
Urinalysis
Test Normal value Function Significance
Volume 1,000-2,000 mL/day Increased in diabetes mellitus, chronic nephritis
Specific gravity 1.015-1.025 Measures the degree of tubular Increased in diabetes mellitus; decreased in acute nephritis,
reabsorption and dehydration diabetes insipidus, aldosteronism
pH 5.0-9.0 Reflects acidosis and alkalosis Acidic: diabetes, acidosis, prolonged fever
Alkaline: urinary tract infection, alkalosis
Casts 1-2 per high power field Renal tubule degeneration occurring in cardiac failure, pregnancy,
and hemogobinuric-nephrosis

Electrolytes
Test Normal value Function Significance
Sodium (Na) 134-143 mmol/L Increased in Cushing’s syndrome
Potassium (K) 3.3-4.6 mmol/L Increased in tissue breakdown
Bicarbonate (HCO3) 22-29 mmol/L Reflects acid-base balance
Chloride (Cl) 98-106 mmol/L Increased in renal disease and hypertension

Markers
Test Normal value Significance
C-reactive protein (CRP) M: 0.08-1.12 mg/dl Increase in infection; indicates an acute phase of the inflammatory
range is age dependent F: 0.08-1.0 mg/dl metabolic response

References
1. Kliegman, RM, Stanton BF, St Geme JW, Schor NF. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 20th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016.
2. Kasper DL, Fauci AS, Hauser SL, Longo DL, Jameson JL, Loscalzo J, eds. Harrison’s principles of internal medicine.19th ed. New York, N.Y.: Mc Graw-Hill;
RESOURCES2015.505