THE PURSER WELLNESS REFERENCE
Understand your lab vocabulary.
Compare Dr. Purser’s adult ranges with your own report. Units, symptoms and health history matter when you discuss a result with your clinician.
16 entries
Anion gap — lab reference
Formula and albumin correction vary by laboratory. Ask your clinician to confirm whether potassium is included.
Electrolytes, Renal Chemistry, and Core Metabolic MarkersBlood urea nitrogen (BUN) — lab reference
Protein intake, hydration, catabolism, GI bleeding, and kidney function affect result.
Electrolytes, Renal Chemistry, and Core Metabolic MarkersBUN/creatinine ratio — lab reference
Calculated and context-dependent. Not a stand-alone diagnostic marker.
Electrolytes, Renal Chemistry, and Core Metabolic MarkersCalcium, ionized — lab reference
pH and specimen handling materially affect results.
Electrolytes, Renal Chemistry, and Core Metabolic MarkersCalcium, total — lab reference
Correct for albumin when appropriate or measure ionized calcium.
Electrolytes, Renal Chemistry, and Core Metabolic MarkersCarbon dioxide / bicarbonate — lab reference
Serum chemistry value. Do not substitute arterial blood-gas bicarbonate ranges.
Electrolytes, Renal Chemistry, and Core Metabolic MarkersChloride — lab reference
Ask your clinician to read this result with sodium, bicarbonate, and anion gap.
Electrolytes, Renal Chemistry, and Core Metabolic MarkersCreatinine — lab reference
Muscle mass, age, diet, medications, and assay matter. Ask your clinician to review with eGFR, not alone.
Electrolytes, Renal Chemistry, and Core Metabolic MarkerseGFR, 2021 CKD-EPI — lab reference
G2 60-89; G3a 45-59; G3b 30-44; G4 15-29; G5 <15. G1/G2 alone do not establish CKD without kidney damage.
Electrolytes, Renal Chemistry, and Core Metabolic MarkersLactate, venous — lab reference
Collection method, tourniquet time, exercise, and timing affect result.
Electrolytes, Renal Chemistry, and Core Metabolic MarkersMagnesium, serum — lab reference
Normal serum magnesium does not exclude tissue depletion.
Electrolytes, Renal Chemistry, and Core Metabolic MarkersPhosphorus — lab reference
Ask your clinician to read this result with kidney function, calcium, vitamin D, and PTH.
Electrolytes, Renal Chemistry, and Core Metabolic MarkersPotassium — lab reference
Hemolysis can falsely elevate. Ask your clinician to review kidney function and acid-base status.
Electrolytes, Renal Chemistry, and Core Metabolic MarkersSerum osmolality — lab reference
Measured and calculated values may differ. Ask your clinician to review osmolal gap when indicated.
Electrolytes, Renal Chemistry, and Core Metabolic MarkersSodium — lab reference
Volume status, glucose, osmolality, and medications may alter interpretation.
Electrolytes, Renal Chemistry, and Core Metabolic MarkersUric acid — lab reference
A gout treatment target is not the same as the healthy-population interval.
