https://bettersafercare.vic.gov.

au/resources/clinical-guidance/maternity-and-newborn-
clinical-network/normal-laboratory-values-for-neonates#goto-electrolytes-preterm-infants-
37-weeks-by-day-of-life
Normal laboratory values for neonates
Normal laboratory values are reference ranges used by clinicians to interpret results of
laboratory tests. In general, normal pathology values are readily available for healthy term
infants. As (extreme) prematurity is a pathological condition in itself, be cautious when using
the concept of ‘normal’. In most cases, when considering the correction of ‘abnormal’ values,
it is wise to consider the following:
 Is this due to sampling or laboratory error?
 Is the baby symptomatic?
 What is the evidence that correcting the abnormality is beneficial?
 Is there any risk or danger in correcting an abnormal result?
It is always advisable to keep in mind the reference ranges from your own laboratory as they
will be analyser or population-specific. This is particularly important, for example, with
respect to coagulation profiles. If your laboratory does not provide reference ranges for
newborns or subsets thereof, the following may be helpful.
N.B. mm/L = micromol/litre.

Term infants (age of life)

Value Cord 1-12 hr 12-24 hr 24-48 hr 48-72 hr 3-10 d
147
Na  143 (124- 145 (132- 148 (134- 149 (139-
(126-  
(mEq/L) 156) 159) 160) 162)
166)
K  7.8
6.4 (5.3-7.3) 6.3 (5.3-8.9) 6.0 (5.2-7.3) 5.9 (5.0-7.7)  
(mEq/L) (5.6-12)
Cl  103 101 (80-
103 (87-114) 102 (92-114) 103 (93-112)  
(mEq/L) (98-110) 111)
2.33 1.95 (1.7- 1.98 (1.5-
Ca (mmol/L) 2.1 (1.8-2.3) 2.0 (1.5-2.5)  
(2.1-2.8) 2.4) 2.4)
Ca (I) (mmol/L)   1.05-1.37 1.05-1.37 1.05-1.37 1.10-1.44 1.20-1.48
1.8 1.97 (1.1- 1.84 (0.9- 1.91 (1.0- 1.87 (0.9-
PO4 (mmol/L)  
(1.2-2.6) 2.8) 2.6) 2.8) 2.5)
Mg (mmol/L)     0.72-1.00   0.81-1.05 0.78-1.02
10.4
9.6 (2.9- 11.8 (3.2- 11.4 (4.6- 11.1 (5.4-
Urea (mmol/L) (7.5-  
12.1) 22.5) 27.5) 24.3)
14.3)
Creat (mmol/L)       0.04-0.11   0.01-0.09
CRP 
<7 <7 <7 <7 <7 <7
(mg/L)
Lactate (mmol/L) 1.5-4.5 0.9-2.7 0.8-1.2     0.5-1.4
Albumin (g/L) 28-43 28-43 28-43 28-43 28-43 30-43
ALP
28-300 28-300 28-300 28-300 28-300 28-300
(IU/L)
8.2 15.9 (+/-
T4   19.0 (+/-2.1) 19.0 (+/-2.1) 19.0 (+/-2.1)
(+/-1.8) 3.0)
TSH     3.0-120 3.0-30   0.3-10
Cortisol (nano 200-700 200-700 200-700      
 Value Cord 1-12 hr 12-24 hr 24-48 hr 48-72 hr 3-10 d
mol/L)
17-OHP (nano
        0.7-12.4 0.7-12.4
mol/L)
Hb (g/L) 168   184   178 170
Hct (%) 53   58   55 54
MCV 107   108   99 98
Retic (%) 3-7   3-7   1-3 0-1
18.1 (9-
WCC x 109/L 22.8 (13-38) 18.9 (9.4-34)     12.2 (5-21)
30)
11.1 (6- 5.5 (1.5-
Neutro x 109/L 15.5 (6-28) 11.5 (5-21)    
26) 10)
5.5 (2-
Lymph x 109/L 5.5 (2-11) 5.8 (2-11.5)     5.0 (2-17)
11)
Mono x 109/L 1.1 1.2 1.1     1.1
Eosin x 109/L 0.4 0.5 0.5     0.5
Platelets
150-350 150-350 150-350 150-350 150-350 150-350
(103/mm3 )
PT (sec)   11-14 11-14 11-14 11-14
11-14
APTT (sec)   23-35 23-35 23-35 23-35
23-35
FBG (mg/dL)   200-400 200-400 200-400 200-400
200-400
<3
Capillary refill   < 3 seconds < 3 seconds < 3 seconds < 3 seconds
seconds
 
Acid base values* - term and preterm infants (by age of life)
Value Cord 1-12 hr 12-24 hr 24-48 hr Range**
pH 7.33 (UV) 7.30 (art) 7.30 (art) 7.39 7.25-7.45
PCO2 (mmHg) 43 (UV) 39 33 34 35-50
HCO3 (mEq/L) 21.6 (UV) 18.8 19.5 20 17-28
PO2 (mmHg) 28 (+/-8) (UV) 62 (+/-13.8) 68 63-87 60-80
Anion gap <20 <20 <20 <20 8-16
* Capillary ranges similar except pO2
** Very difficult to define, wide variation within/between level III units

Electrolytes - preterm infants (< 37 weeks) (by day of life)

Value Day 1 Day 3 Day 7 Day 21 Day 35 Day 49
140 (133- 140 (133- 140 (133- 136 (129- 137 (133- 137 (133-
Na (mEq/L)
146) 146) 146) 142) 148) 142)
5.6 (4.6- 5.6 (4.6- 5.6 (4.6- 5.8 (4.5- 5.5 (4.5-
K (mEq/L) 5.7 (4.6-7.1)
6.7) 6.7) 6.7) 7.1) 6.6)
108 (100- 108 (100- 108 (100- 108 (102- 107 (100- 107 (101-
Cl (mEq/L)
117) 117) 117) 116) 115) 115)
2.3 (1.5- 2.3 (1.5- 2.3 (1.5- 2.4 (2.0- 2.4 (2.2-
Ca (millimol/L) 2.4 (2.2-2.7)
2.9) 2.9) 2.9) 2.8) 2.6)
Ca (I) 1.04-1.52
0.81-1.41 0.72-1.44 1.04-1.52 1.04-1.52 1.04-1.52
(millimol/L) (d5)
PO4 (millimol/L) 2.5 (1.7- 2.5 (1.7- 2.5 (1.7- 2.4 (2.0- 2.3 (1.8- 2.2 (1.4-2.7)
 Value Day 1 Day 3 Day 7 Day 21 Day 35 Day 49
3.5) 3.5) 3.5) 2.8) 2.6)
Mg (millimol/L) 0.62-1.02 0.66-1.10 0.75-1.00 0.75-1.00 0.75-1.00 0.75-1.00
Urea 3.3 (1.1- 3.3 (1.1- 3.3 (1.1- 4.8 (0.8- 4.8 (0.7- 4.8 (0.9-
(millimol/L) 9.1) 9.1) 9.1) 11.2) 9.5) 10.9)
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Other biochemistry - preterm infants (by gestation)

Value 27 weeks 29 weeks 31 weeks 33 weeks 35 weeks
Alb (g/L) 21-33 23-34 22-35 22-35 22-36
ALP (IU/L) 35-604 119-465 112-450 110-398 113-360
Creat (micromol/L) day 2 0.08-0.16 0.07-0.14 0.07-0.14 0.05-0.13 0.05-0.13
Creat (micromol/L) day 7 0.05 -0.11 0.04-0.12 0.04-0.12 0.02-0.11 0.02-0.11
Creat (micromol/L) day 14 0.04-0.10 0.04-0.10 0.04-0.10 0.02-0.09 0.02-0.09
Creat (micromol/L) day 21 0.03-0.09 0.03-0.09 0.03-0.09 0.02-0.09 0.02-0.09
Creat (micromol/L) day 28 0.03-0.08 0.02-0.09 0.02-0.09 0.01-0.06 0.01-0.06
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Haematology - preterm infants (by age)

Value Birth 12 hours 24 hours 1 week 2 weeks 1 month
140 (24
Hb (g/L)          
wks)
145 (28
           
wks)
150 (34
           
wks)
22.8 (13-- 18.9 (9.4-
12.2 (5- 11.4 (5- 10.8 (5-
WCC x 109/L 18.1 (9-30)
38) 34) 21) 20) 19.5)
5.5 (1.5-
Neutro x 109/L 11.1 (6-26) 15.5 (6-28) 11.5 (5-21) 4.5 (1-9.5) 3.8 (1-9)
10)
6.0 (2.5-
Lymph x 109/L 5.5 (2-11) 5.5 (2-11) 5.8 (2-11.5) 5 (2-17) 5.5 (2-17)
16.5)
Mono x 109/L 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.0 0.7
Eosin x 109/L 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.3
Platelets (103/mm3
150-350 150-350 150-350 150-350 150-350 150-350
)
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Coagulation profile - preterm infants (by age)
Value Day 1 Day 5 Day 30
PT (sec) 13 (10.6-16.2) 12.5 (10-15.3) 11.8 (10-13.6)
APTT (sec) 53.6 (27-79) 50.5 (27-74) 44.7 (27-62)
FBG (g/L) 2.43 (1.5-3.7) 2.8 (1.6-4.2) 2.54 (1.5-4.14)
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CSF - term and preterm infants (by age of life)

Value Term < 7d Term > 7d Preterm < 7d Preterm > 7d
WCC (mm3) 5 (0-30) 3 (0-10) 9 (0-30) 12 (2-70)
 Value Term < 7d Term > 7d Preterm < 7d Preterm > 7d
RCC (mm3) 9 (0-50) <10 30 (0-333) 30
Protein (g/L) 0.6 (0.3-2.5) 0.5 (0.2-0.8) 1 (0.5-2.9) 0.9 (0.5-2.6)
Glucose (millimol/L) 3 (1.5-5.5) 3 (1.5-5.5) 3 (1.5-5.5) 3 (1.5-5.5)
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Urine - term and preterm infants

Value Term < 7d Term > 7d Preterm < 7d Preterm > 7d
WCC (per HPF) <5 <5 <5 <5
RCC (per HPF) 0-2 0-2 0-2 0-2
Squames (per HPF) <5 <5 <5 <5
Organisms Nil Nil Nil Nil
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More information
References
 Rennie JM, Roberton NRC (Eds). Textbook of Neonatology, 3rd edn. Churchill
Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1999.
 Taeusch HW, Ballard RA (Eds). Averys Diseases of the Newborn 7th edn. W.B.
Saunders Company, Philadelphia. 1998