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
Test
Units
Reference
Decision Levels
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
Decision Levels
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
Decision Levels
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
Decision Levels
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
Decision Levels
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
Decision Levels
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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