What are normal U&E levels?
What are U&Es?
They are a common group of blood tests that assess:
- Mineral (electrolyte) levels
- Kidney function – including GFR and CKD stage
- Acid-alkali balance.
Normal U&E values
- Sodium (Na) = 135-145 mmol/L. A sodium <125 or >150 requires treatment today. Low or high can affect the function of the brain. If very low or high, the patient can become drowsy or even unconscious
- Potassium (K) = 3.5-5.3 mmol/L. A potassium <3.0 or >6.0 requires treatment today. Low or high can affect the function of the heart (and even stop)
- Chloride (Cl) = 95-105 mmol/L
- Bicarbonate (Bic) = 22-28 mmol/L (venous). Low indicates high acid/low alkali levels (acidosis), high indicates low acid/high alkali levels (alkalosis)
- Urea (U) = 3-7 mmol/L. High in CKD or AKI. If >50, you need a reason not to have dialysis
- Creatinine (Creat) = 60-120 μmol/L. High in CKD or AKI. If >500, you need a reason not to have dialysis
- eGFR = 90-120 ml/min/1.73m². Low in CKD. This enables your CKD stage to be calculated.
