Study cards
Calculations and Reference Ranges
37 cards from 3 lessons in Calculations and Reference Ranges, each linking to the passage it came from.
Turn the cards
Click the card to turn it. Then → Got it or ← Not yet. A card marked Not yet comes back before the round ends.
Every card turned
All cards
Dilution Math
How is a dilution factor calculated from the prepared volumes?
Final volume ÷ specimen volume.
Include both specimen and diluent in the final volume. The two volumes must use matching units.
How do you calculate the specimen volume for a chosen final volume and dilution factor?
Specimen volume = final volume ÷ dilution factor.
Read the ratio as specimen parts in total parts, so a 1:5 dilution is 1 part specimen in 5 parts total.
How do you calculate the diluent volume after choosing the specimen and final volumes?
Diluent volume = final volume − specimen volume.
The specimen already fills part of the final volume, so only the rest is diluent.
How do you recover the original concentration from a measured diluted result?
Original concentration = diluted result × dilution factor.
Use the factor of the dilution that was prepared. The diluted reading must fall inside the analytical measurement range, and the final result cannot go past the highest dilution the laboratory has verified for that test.
Read the passage: Concentration and patient-result calculation
Which volumes define the factor of one serial dilution step?
Step factor = total volume in that tube ÷ volume transferred into it.
The transferred solution comes from the preceding mixed tube.
How do you combine successive serial dilution factors?
Multiply every completed step factor.
Each step acts on the concentration left by the preceding step.
How do you calculate the concentration in a mixed destination tube?
Destination concentration = source concentration ÷ step factor.
Use the immediately preceding tube as the source in a serial dilution.
How do you calculate the amount of solute from concentration and volume?
Amount = concentration × volume.
Match the volume unit to the concentration's denominator. For example, mg/L × L gives mg.
ASCP BOC Examination Reference Ranges
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for sodium (mmol/L)?
136–145 mmol/L.
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for potassium (mmol/L)?
3.5–5.1 mmol/L.
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for chloride (mmol/L)?
98–107 mmol/L.
The examination table gives the same numbers in its conventional and SI columns.
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for total CO₂ (mmol/L)?
22–33 mmol/L.
The table lists total CO₂ separately from arterial bicarbonate.
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for creatinine (mg/dL)?
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in mg/dL?
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for fasting glucose (mg/dL)?
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for arterial pH?
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for arterial pCO₂ (mm Hg)?
35–44 mm Hg.
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for arterial bicarbonate (mmol/L)?
23–29 mmol/L.
The table lists arterial bicarbonate in its own row, separate from total CO₂.
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for the RBC count (per µL)?
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for hemoglobin (g/dL)?
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for hematocrit (%)?
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in fL?
76–100 fL.
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) in pg?
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in g/dL?
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for the platelet count (per µL)?
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for the total WBC count (per µL)?
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glucose in mg/dL?
What is the ASCP MLS examination range for urine pH?
Core Chemistry Calculations
How is total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) calculated when the procedure measures transferrin?
TIBC = transferrin × the conversion factor your method specifies.
For transferrin in mg/dL and TIBC in µg/dL, the factor is in µg of iron per mg of transferrin.
What must be known before using a transferrin-to-TIBC factor such as 1.18?
Which method the factor was set for, and the units it expects for transferrin and TIBC.
Mayo Clinic Laboratories uses 1.18 for its own calculation. Another transferrin method may need a different factor.
What is the calculation for transferrin saturation?
Transferrin saturation (%) = (serum iron ÷ TIBC) × 100.
Use results from the same specimen in matching concentration units.
How is unsaturated iron-binding capacity calculated from TIBC and serum iron?
UIBC = TIBC − serum iron.
Use the same units for both values.
How do serum iron and UIBC combine to give TIBC?
TIBC = serum iron + UIBC.
Occupied and unoccupied iron-binding capacity make up the total.
How do you calculate globulin from total protein and albumin?
Calculated globulin = total protein − albumin.
Both measured components must come from the same specimen and use matching units.
How do you set up an albumin/globulin ratio?
Albumin ÷ (total protein − albumin).
Calculate globulin before dividing, and keep the component values unrounded when available.
What unit is reported for an albumin/globulin ratio?
It has no unit.
Matching concentration units cancel in the division.
How do you convert transferrin from g/L to mg/dL before using a factor stated for mg/dL?
Multiply by 100.
A gram is 1,000 mg and a liter is 10 dL, so the combined factor is 100.
These cards are also free to download for Anki: see Anki decks.