Medical Decision Levels
These tables of medical decision levels provide possible critical decision levels - where you can assess performance (CV, bias) and determine the Sigma-metrics and appropriate QC procedures.
These figures are quoted from Statland BE. Clinical Decision Levels for Laboratory Tests, Second Edition [Oradell NJ;Medical Economics Books, 1987.] with permission.
MEDICAL DECISION LEVELS
These figures are quoted from Statland BE. Clinical Decision Levels for Laboratory Tests, Second Edition [Oradell NJ;Medical Economics Books, 1987.] with permission.
| Test |
Units |
Reference
Interval |
Decision Levels |
| ELECTROLYTES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| Calcium |
mg/dL |
9.0-10.6 |
7.0 |
11.0 |
13.5 |
|
|
| Chloride |
mmol/L |
98-109 |
90 |
112 |
|
|
|
| CO2 Content |
mmol/L |
23-30 |
6.0 |
20 |
33 |
|
|
| Magnesium |
mEq/L |
1.2-2.4 |
1.2 |
2.0 |
5.0 |
|
|
|
mmol/L |
0.6-1.2 |
0.6 |
1.0 |
2.5 |
|
|
| Phosphorus |
mg/dL |
2.5-5.0 |
1.5 |
2.5 |
5.0 |
|
|
| Potassium |
mmol/L |
3.7-5.1 |
3.0 |
5.8 |
7.5 |
|
|
| Sodium |
mmol/L |
138-146 |
115 |
135 |
150 |
|
|
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| Test |
Units |
Reference
Interval |
Decision Levels |
| METABOLITES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| Bilirubin |
mg/dL |
0.1-1.2 |
1.4 |
2.5 |
20 |
|
|
| Cholesterol |
mg/dL |
150-275 |
90 |
240 |
260 |
350 |
|
| Creatinine |
mg/dL |
0.7-1.5 |
0.6 |
1.6 |
6.0 |
|
|
| Glucose |
mg/dL |
60-95 |
45 |
120 |
180 |
|
|
| Iron |
ug/dL |
50-165 |
50 |
220 |
400 |
|
|
| Triglycerides |
mg/dL |
20-180 |
40 |
150 |
400 |
|
|
| Urea Nitrogen (BUN) |
mg/dL |
8-26 |
6 |
26 |
50 |
|
|
| Uric acid |
mg/dL |
2.5-7.0 |
2.0 |
8.0 |
10.7 |
|
|
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| Test |
Units |
Reference
Interval |
Decision Levels |
| PROTEINS and ENZYMES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| Alanine aminotransferase |
U/L |
5-40 |
20 |
60 |
300 |
|
|
| Albumin |
g/dL |
3.5-5.0 |
2.0 |
3.5 |
5.2 |
|
|
| Alkaline phosphatase |
U/L |
35-120 |
50 |
150 |
400 |
|
|
| Amylase |
Somogyi U |
60-180 |
50 |
120 |
200 |
|
|
| Aspartate aminotransferase |
U/L |
8-40 |
20 |
60 |
300 |
|
|
| Carcinoembryonic antigen |
ng/mL |
<2.5 |
2.5 |
10 |
20 |
|
|
| Creatine kinase |
U/L |
10-180 |
100 |
240 |
1800 |
|
|
| Glutamyl transferase |
U/L |
5-40 |
20 |
50 |
150 |
|
|
| Lactate dehydrogenase |
U/L |
60-220 |
150 |
300 |
500 |
|
|
| Total protein |
g/dL |
6.0-8.0 |
4.5 |
6.0 |
8.0 |
|
|
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| Test |
Units |
Reference
Interval |
Decision Levels |
| HORMONES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| Cortisol in plasma |
ug/dL |
7-20 @8am |
5 |
10 |
18 |
25 |
|
| Cortisol (Free) in urine |
ug/24 hrs |
20-90 |
50 |
100 |
|
|
|
| Follicle-stimulating hormone |
mIU/mL |
2-15 Adult M |
1 |
35 |
60 |
|
|
| Follicular phase, Luteal phase |
|
3-15 Adult F |
|
|
|
|
|
| 17-Hydroxycorticosteroids |
mg/24 hrs |
3-10 |
3 |
15 |
20 |
|
|
| 17-Ketosteroids in urine |
mg/24 hrs |
8-20 Adult M |
20 |
25 |
40 |
|
|
|
|
5-15 Adult F |
|
|
|
|
|
| Luteinizing hormone |
mIUL/mL |
5-25 Adult M |
1 |
50 |
100 |
|
|
| Follicular phase |
|
5-30 Adult F |
|
|
|
|
|
| Metanephrine in urine |
mg/24 hrs |
<1.3 |
1.3 |
2.5 |
|
|
|
| Prolactin |
ng/mL |
1-20 M |
30 |
100 |
300 |
|
|
|
|
1-25 F |
|
|
|
|
|
| Thyroxine |
ug/dL |
5.5-12.5 |
5 |
7 |
10 |
14 |
|
| Vanillymandelic acid in urine |
mg/24 hrs |
<6.8 |
6.8 |
13 |
|
|
|
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| Test |
Units |
Reference
Interval |
Decision Levels |
| HEMATOLOGY RELATED TESTS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| Antithrombin-III |
% of normal |
80-120 |
50 |
75 |
|
|
|
| Bleeding Time |
min |
2.3-9.2 |
10 |
15 |
|
|
|
| Fibrinogen in plasma |
mg/dL |
200-400 |
30 |
100 |
500 |
|
|
| Folate in serum |
ng/mL |
2-15 |
1.5 |
4.0 |
|
|
|
| Hematocrit |
L/L |
0.43-0.51 M |
0.14 |
0.33 |
0.56 |
0.70 |
|
|
|
0.38-0.46 F |
|
|
|
|
|
| Hemoglobin |
g/dL |
14-17.8 M |
4.5 |
10.5 |
17 |
23 |
|
|
|
12-15.6 F |
|
|
|
|
|
| Mean corpuscular volume |
fL (cu u) |
84-96 |
80 |
100 |
|
|
|
| Partial thromboplastin time |
sec |
30 |
35 |
45 |
90 |
|
|
| Plasminogen |
% |
80-120 |
50 |
75 |
135 |
|
|
| Platelet count |
K/uL |
150-400 |
10 |
50 |
100 |
600 |
1000 |
| Prothrombin time |
sec |
11.5 |
14 |
16 |
30 |
|
|
| Vitamin B12 |
pg/mL |
200-900 |
170 |
250 |
1200 |
|
|
| White blood cell count |
K/uL |
4-11 |
0.5 |
3 |
12 |
30 |
|
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| Test |
Units |
Theraputic
Range |
Decision Levels |
| DRUGS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| Amikacin |
ug/mL |
20-30 (peak) |
10 |
20 |
32 |
|
|
|
|
1-8 (trough) |
|
|
|
|
|
| Carbamazepine |
ug/mL |
4-12 |
4 |
9 |
14 |
|
|
| Digoxin |
ug/mL |
0.9-2.0 |
1.0 |
1.6 |
2.5 |
|
|
| Disopyramide |
ug/mL |
2.5-5.0 |
2.5 |
4.5 |
7.0 |
|
|
| Ethosuximide |
ug/mL |
50-100 |
50 |
120 |
|
|
|
| Gentamicin |
ug/mL |
6-10 (peak) |
0.5 |
2 |
6 |
12 |
|
|
|
0.5-1.5 (trough) |
|
|
|
|
|
| Kanamycin |
ug/mL |
20-30 (peak) |
10 |
20 |
32 |
|
|
|
|
1-8 (trough) |
|
|
|
|
|
| Lidocaine |
ug/mL |
1.5-5.0 |
1.5 |
5.0 |
7.0 |
|
|
| Lithium |
mmol/L |
0.5-1.2 |
0.4 |
0.8 |
1.5 |
|
|
| Phenobarbital |
ug/mL |
15-40 |
15 |
30 |
60 |
120 |
|
| Phenytoin |
ug/mL |
10-20 |
10 |
20 |
50 |
|
|
| Primidone |
ug/mL |
5-12 |
5 |
9 |
12 |
|
|
| Procainamide |
ug/mL |
4-10 |
4 |
12 |
16 |
|
|
| Quinidine |
ug/mL |
2-5 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
|
|
| Salicylates |
ug/mL |
150-300 |
150 |
300 |
500 |
|
|
| Theophylline |
ug/mL |
10-20 asthma |
10 |
20 |
35 |
60 |
|
|
|
5-10 neonatal apnea |
|
|
|
|
|
| Tobramycin |
ug/mL |
6-10 (peak) |
0.5 |
2 |
6 |
12 |
|
|
|
0.5-1.5 (trough) |
|
|
|
|
|
| Valproic acid |
ug/mL |
50-100 |
50 |
90 |
120 |
|
|
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