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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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

For a person who is not taking an anticoagulant, the INR is typically about:

  1. A2.0–3.0
  2. B3.5–4.5
  3. C5.0–6.0
  4. D0.8–1.2
2.Easy

Which drug commonly causes a low serum potassium?

  1. AAmiloride
  2. BFurosemide
  3. CLisinopril
  4. DSpironolactone
3.Easy

Which blood marker is the most specific for injury to the heart muscle?

  1. ACardiac troponin
  2. BLactate dehydrogenase
  3. CTotal creatine kinase
  4. DSerum myoglobin
4.Medium

A patient taking furosemide has a potassium of 2.9 mEq/L. Which finding would the nurse expect?

  1. ADiarrhea and abdominal cramping from overactive bowels
  2. BMuscle weakness and leg cramps
  3. CTall, peaked T waves on the ECG
  4. DTingling around the mouth with a positive Chvostek’s sign
5.Medium

Why must a low total calcium be interpreted with care in a patient with a low serum albumin?

  1. AAlbumin and calcium are measured with the same chemical reaction, so they always fall together
  2. BLow albumin always causes true, symptomatic hypocalcemia
  3. CLow albumin makes every calcium test inaccurate and useless
  4. DMuch calcium is bound to albumin, so total calcium falls even if ionized calcium is normal
6.Medium

A patient’s fasting glucose today is 98 mg/dL (5.4 mmol/L), but the HbA1c is 8.9% (74 mmol/mol). What is the best interpretation?

  1. AToday’s good result shows that diabetes is well controlled
  2. BThe HbA1c reflects only the past 24 hours
  3. CThe patient does not have diabetes
  4. DGlucose control has been poor over the past 2–3 months
7.Hard

A young adult has fatigue, bruising and fever. The white cell count is 85 × 10³/µL with many blasts, the hemoglobin is 7.9 g/dL (79 g/L) and the platelets are 22 × 10³/µL. What is the most likely diagnosis?

  1. AAcute viral infection
  2. BAcute leukemia
  3. CPolycythemia vera
  4. DIron-deficiency anemia
8.Hard

A patient with C. difficile diarrhea has a white cell count of 24 × 10³/µL and a creatinine that has risen to 2.1 mg/dL (186 µmol/L). What does this indicate?

  1. ASuccessful response to treatment
  2. BSevere C. difficile infection
  3. CMild infection needing no treatment
  4. DUnrelated chronic kidney disease

Answer key

  1. 1. D · 0.8–1.2
  2. 2. B · Furosemide
  3. 3. A · Cardiac troponin
  4. 4. B · Muscle weakness and leg cramps
  5. 5. D · Much calcium is bound to albumin, so total calcium falls even if ionized calcium is normal
  6. 6. D · Glucose control has been poor over the past 2–3 months
  7. 7. B · Acute leukemia
  8. 8. B · Severe C. difficile infection

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