What it means
A unit of concentration used in US lab results. Blood glucose, blood urea nitrogenblud yoo-REE-uh NY-truh-jenA blood test that measures urea nitrogen, a waste product made when the body breaks down protein.Full entry , creatininekree-AT-uh-neenA waste product of muscle that the kidneys remove from the blood; its blood level is used to measure how well the kidneys work.Full entry , calciumKAL-see-umA mineral that builds bones and teeth and that nerves, muscles, the heart and blood clotting need to work.Full entry and cholesterol are often reported in mg/dL. Many other countries use SI units such as mmol/L, so the numbers differ: a glucose of 100 mg/dL equals about 5.6 mmol/L.
For the nurse
Check the unit before comparing a result with a normal range or an earlier value, especially when results come from another country or lab.
In a chart
"Fasting glucose 92 mg/dL."
At a glance
| Spanish | miligramos por decilitro |
|---|---|
| Also written | milligrams per deciliter |
Related terms
blood glucose
The amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood at the time it is measured.
creatinine
A waste product of muscle that the kidneys remove from the blood; its blood level is used to measure how well the kidneys work.
blood urea nitrogen
A blood test that measures urea nitrogen, a waste product made when the body breaks down protein.