ABC Medical Notes.com

Basics

• Taken in Serum (Gold top) bottle or Lithium heparin (green top)
• Needs 5 ml and results wihtin 1 hour usually

The U&E comprises the following tests

• Sodium 135-145 mmol/L ( mEq/L)
  • High: Hypernatraemia
  • Low: Hyponatraemia
• Potassium 3.5-5 mmol/L ( mEq/L)
  • High: Hyperkalaemia
  • Low: Hypokalaemia
• Urea ( 7-20 mg/dL or 2.5 - 7.0 mmol/L)
  • High: Renal failure, GI bleed
  • Low: Liver disease
• Creatinine (0.5-1.2 mg/dL or 50-120 umol/L )
  • Factors: varies with age, muscle mass and surface area
  • High: Acute or Chronic Renal failure
  • Low: Low skeletal mass
• Chloride: 98-108 mmol/L
• Bicarbonate: 22-30 mmol/L
  • High: alkalosis
  • Low : acidosis