Author Archives: د.حسام أبو فرسخ

:Normal range

Transudates: <1.016

Exudates     : >1.016

Comment: Used to assist in monitoring fluid intake of patients at risk of developing urinary stone formation. Specific gravity varies greatly with fluid intake and state of hydration. High specific gravity is associated with decreased renal perfusion, SIADH, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, proteinuria, congestive heart failure and obstructive uropathy. Low specific gravity values are found in renal tubular damage, chronic renal insufficiency, ADH resistance, hypokalemia diabetes insipidus and malignant hypertension. Ketoacidosis may give increased specific gravity reading, whereas glucose and urea concentration of > 1% may give lower results

Sample: Body fluids, urine

Normal range: GH and IGF-1 are elevated   during normal puberty. Values vary with age, sex, and among laboratories. Adult: 130-450 ng/mL. Range is lower in males. It is increased with puberty and pregnancy

Comment: The insulin – like factors (IGFs, also called somatomedins are peptides which are related to the concentration of growth hormone (GH). Two IGFs are of medical interest: IGF-1 (somatomedin C) and IgF-2. The formeris used in evaluation of growth disorders, and is generally a better test than is assay for basal – and glucose –suppressed growth hormone. IGF-1 circulates in the body, mostly bound to insulin – like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) mainly IGFBPs

(Increased: when GH increased (acromegaly

Decreased: dwarfism

Sample: Serum, fasting freeze immediately

:Normal range

Volume                            : 2-5 mL–

Appearance                    : white to gray, opalescent, viscid, opaque–

Clotting and liquefaction: complete in 20-30 minutes, rarely over 60 minutes–

PH                                   : 7.2-8.0–

Sperm count                   : ³20 million /mL–

Total sperm count          : > 40 million / ejaculate–

Motility                           : at least 50% motile–

-Morphology : about 70% normal oval-headed forms, <15% normal forms is usually associated with decreased in vitro fertilization rate

Leukocytes (large neutrophils): < 1 million/mL–

Comment: Infertility studies post vasectomy studies; diagnose azoospermia, oligospermia

Sample: seminal fluid

:Normal range

Blood, umol/L*

Newborn: 95-478 

Infants: 75-370

Children: 70-300

Adults: 70-300

Urine, umol/L*

Infants: < 164

Children: < 318

Adults: 240-650

Comment: See amino acid in plasma & serum

Sample: 24 hr urine, spot urine, plasma, (lithium heparin) separate immediately

(Normal range: 18-114 nmol/L (non pregnant

Comment: Raised values are found in pregnancy, hyperthyroidism and in subjects on oral contraceptives. Low values are found in some hirsute women and this is a valuable investigation in this condition

Sample: Fasting, serum

Normal range: EDTA whole blood

Comment:Positive screens are confirmed by qualitative separation of sickle and other abnormal Hb’s present. This distinguishes between sickle cell trait, sickle cell disease or a mixed haemoglobinopathy

Sample: Negative

Therapeutic range: 4-12 ng/mL

Comment: Sirolimus is used for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in kidney transplant patients, and is recommended

in combination with cyclosporin and corticosteroids. Therapeutic monitoring has been shown to be helpful in cases of patients with hepatic impairment, pediatric patients and patients receiving concurrent doses of drug known to interact with Sirolimus. The therapeutic range may vary with other transplant organs, when used in combination with drugs other than cyclosporine (or sirolimus alone), with approach of the transplant center, and with other factors

Sample: EDTA whole blood

Normal range: Negative

Comment: Autoimmune hepatitis type III

Sample: serum

Normal range: 40-220 mmol/24 hr

Comment: Urinary sodium measurement is useful in the work-up of acute renal failure and in differential diagnosis of hyponatremia

Sample: 24hr urine

Normal range: 135-152 mmol/L

Comment: Sodium is the major cation of extracellular fluid, responsible for almost half the osmolality of plasma (central role in the distribution of water). Low serum levels are caused by vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, edema, ascites and Addison’s disease. Hypernatremia is found in water depletion and Conn’s disease

Sample: Serum

Sodium, spot urine: See Sodium, 24hr urine