1. Glucose & Diabetes Testing 🍭

Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS)

Normal: 70-99 mg/dL (3.9-5.5 mmol/L)
Prediabetes: 100-125 mg/dL (5.6-6.9 mmol/L)
Diabetes: ≥126 mg/dL (≥7.0 mmol/L)
Fasting: 8-12 hours NPO

HbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin)

Reflects average glucose over 2-3 months
Normal: <5.7%
Prediabetes: 5.7-6.4%
Diabetes: ≥6.5%

OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test)

75g glucose load. 2-hour value: Normal <140, Prediabetes 140-199, Diabetes ≥200 mg/dL

2. Lipid Profile 🍔

Total Cholesterol

Desirable: <200 mg/dL
Borderline high: 200-239 mg/dL
High: ≥240 mg/dL

HDL (Good Cholesterol)

Low (risk): <40 mg/dL (men), <50 (women)
Optimal: ≥60 mg/dL
Higher is better!

LDL (Bad Cholesterol)

Optimal: <100 mg/dL
High: 160-189 mg/dL
Very high: ≥190 mg/dL

Triglycerides

Normal: <150 mg/dL
High: 200-499 mg/dL
Very high: ≥500 mg/dL (pancreatitis risk)

3. Liver Function Tests (LFTs) 🫀

Enzymes

ALT (SGPT): 7-56 U/L - Most specific for liver
AST (SGOT): 10-40 U/L - Also in heart, muscle
ALP: 44-147 U/L - Biliary obstruction, bone disease
GGT: Sensitive for alcohol liver disease

Bilirubin

Total: 0.1-1.2 mg/dL
Direct (Conjugated): 0-0.3 mg/dL - Liver/biliary
Indirect (Unconjugated): 0.1-1.0 mg/dL - Hemolysis

Proteins

Albumin: 3.4-5.4 g/dL - Synthetic function
Total Protein: 6.0-8.3 g/dL
Low albumin = chronic liver disease

4. Kidney Function Tests (KFTs) 🫘

BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)

Normal: 7-20 mg/dL

Elevated: Kidney disease, dehydration, high protein diet

Creatinine

Normal: 0.7-1.3 mg/dL (men), 0.6-1.1 (women)

More specific for kidney function

BUN/Creatinine Ratio

Normal: 10-20:1

>20:1 = Prerenal (dehydration)

eGFR (Estimated GFR)

Normal: >90 mL/min/1.73m²

CKD stages based on eGFR levels

💡 Board Exam Tips - Clinical Chemistry

✓ ALT is more specific for liver than AST
✓ HbA1c doesn't require fasting - reflects 2-3 months
✓ Lipid profile: 9-12 hours fasting required

Clinical Chemistry