Lab values & electrolytes worksheet with answers

Free printable Lab values & electrolytes worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy

Why is AST less specific for liver damage than ALT?

  1. AAST is also found in heart and skeletal muscle
  2. BAST is not measured in the blood at all
  3. CAST is made by the bone marrow, not the liver
  4. DAST is found only in the kidney tubules
2.Easy

What is the typical range of urine pH?

  1. AAbout 4.5–8.0
  2. BAbout 1.0–2.0
  3. CAbout 9.0–11.0
  4. DAbout 7.35–7.45
3.Easy

What is a typical adult reference range for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)?

  1. AAbout 40–80 mIU/L
  2. BAbout 0.4–4.0 mIU/L
  3. CAbout 10–20 mIU/L
  4. DAbout 0.01–0.04 mIU/L
4.Medium

A patient taking phenazopyridine for bladder pain has bright orange urine. What should the nurse know about urine tests?

  1. AThe drug improves the accuracy of all dipsticks
  2. BThe color shows severe liver failure is present
  3. CThe dye can interfere with dipstick color readings
  4. DThe color proves blood is present in the urine
5.Medium

A patient with type 1 diabetes has the flu, is eating little and has a glucose of 290 mg/dL (16.1 mmol/L). Which advice is correct?

  1. AStop all insulin until you are eating normally again
  2. BKeep taking insulin and check blood or urine ketones
  3. CDrink only water and avoid all carbohydrate foods
  4. DWait 3 days before checking the glucose again
6.Medium

A patient has a hematocrit of 54%, a high BUN and a urine specific gravity of 1.034. What does this pattern suggest?

  1. AKidney failure with dilute urine
  2. BAcute blood loss with dilution
  3. CDehydration with hemoconcentration
  4. DFluid overload
7.Hard

Why can a normal creatinine be misleading in a frail older adult with low muscle mass?

  1. ACreatinine levels do not depend on muscle mass at all
  2. BLess muscle makes less creatinine, hiding reduced kidney function
  3. CA normal creatinine always proves normal kidney function
  4. DOlder adults always have a higher creatinine than younger adults do
8.Hard

A patient has taken metformin for 8 years and now has numbness in the feet, a hemoglobin of 10.2 g/dL (102 g/L) and an MCV of 108 fL. Which deficiency is most likely?

  1. AIron deficiency from gut loss
  2. BVitamin B12 deficiency
  3. CVitamin K deficiency
  4. DVitamin D (calciferol) deficiency

Answer key

  1. 1. A · AST is also found in heart and skeletal muscle
  2. 2. A · About 4.5–8.0
  3. 3. B · About 0.4–4.0 mIU/L
  4. 4. C · The dye can interfere with dipstick color readings
  5. 5. B · Keep taking insulin and check blood or urine ketones
  6. 6. C · Dehydration with hemoconcentration
  7. 7. B · Less muscle makes less creatinine, hiding reduced kidney function
  8. 8. B · Vitamin B12 deficiency

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