Blood Chemistry Critical (Panic) Values
- This is the list of the critical or panic values which need immediate action.
- Should inform the hospital or the requesting doctor.
| Chemical test | Normal values | High Critical or panic value | Clinical effect | Low Critical or panic value | Clinical effects |
| Blood glucose level | 65 to 110 mg/dL | >450 mg/dL | Hyperglycemiamia | <40 mg/dL | Hypoglycemia |
| Blood urea nitrogen | 7 to 18 mg/dL | >100 mg/dL | |||
| Serum Calcium total | 8.6 to 10 mg/L | >13 mg/dL | Cardiotoxcity, arrythemias, and coma | <6 mg/dL | Tetany |
| Serum chloride | 98 to 106 mmol/L or meq/L | >120 mmol/L | Dehydration, hyperventilation, renal tubular acidosis | <70 mmol/L | Severe vomiting, severe diarrhea, diabetic acidosis |
| Serum bicarbonate | 23 to 23 mmol/L | >40 meq/L | Respiratory problems | <6.0 mmol/L | Acidosis |
| Serum creatinine | 0.6 to 1.3 mg/dL | >10 mg/dL | Renal failure | Decreased | Renal disease, urinary tract obstruction, nephrotoxic drugs |
| Serum Potassium (K) | 3.5 to 5.3 meq/L | >7.0meq/L | Arrhythmia | <2.5 meq/L | Arrhythmia |
| Serum Sodium (Na+) | 135 to 145 meq/L | >155 meq/L | Cardiovascular collapse | <120 meq/L | weakness, neurologic symptoms |
| Magnesium | 1.3 to 2.1 meq/L | > 15 meq/L | Cardiac arrest, and respiratory paralysis | <1.0 meq/L | Tetany |
| Uric acid | Male= 3.5 to 7.2 mg/dL Female=2.6 to 6.0 mg/dL | High level | Gout, renal failure | Decreased level | Fanconi syndrome, Wilson’s disease, liver disease |