DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37573/9781585286423.APP
Free access
Appendix A.

Therapeutic Ranges of Drugs in Traditional and SI Unitsa

DRUG

THERAPEUTIC RANGE, TRADITIONAL UNITS

CONVERSION FACTORb

THERAPEUTIC RANGE, SI UNITS

Acetaminophen

4–18 mg/dL

>140 mg/dL at 4 hours

Post ingestion - toxic

66.16

264–1191 µmol/L

9,262 µmol/L at 4 hours

Post ingestion - toxic

N-acetylprocainamide

5–30 mg/L

3.606

18–108 µmol/L

Amikacin

Trough 5–10 mcg/mL

Peak 20–30 mcg/mL

*range applies to traditional dosing (every 8–12 hrs)

1.708

8.5–17 µmol/L

34–51 µmol/L

Amiodarone

0.5–2.5 mcg/mL

1.55

0.8–3.9 µmol/L

Amitriptyline

120–250 ng/mL

3.605

433–901 nmol/L

Carbamazepine

4–12 mg/L

4.23

17–51 µmol/L

Desipramine

115–350 ng/mL

3.754

431–1314 nmol/L

Digoxin

0.5–2.2 ng/mL

1.281

0.64–2.8 nmol/L

Ethosuximide

40–100 mg/L

7.084

280–710 µmol/L

Flucytosine

20–100 mg/L

7.745

155–775 µmol/L

Gentamicin

Trough: <1 mcg/mL

Peak: 6–10 mcg/mL

*range applies to traditional dosing (every 8–12 hrs)

2.09

<2.09 µmol/L

12.5–21 µmol/L

Imipramine

180–350 ng/mL

3.566

642–1248 nmol/L

Isoniazid

>3 mg/L toxic

7.291

>22 µmol/L toxic

Itraconazole

0.5–1 mg/L

1.417

0.71–1.42 µmol/L

Lidocaine

1.5–5 mg/L

4.267

6.4–21.3 µmol/L

Lithium

0.5–1.5 mEq/L

1

0.5–1.5 mmol/L

Nortriptyline

50–150 ng/mL

3.797

190–570 nmol/L

Pentobarbital

1–5 mcg/mL

4.439

4–22 µmol/L

Phenobarbital

10–40 mg/L

4.306

43–172 µmol/L

Phenytoin

10–20 mg/L

3.964

40–80 µmol/L

Posaconazole

0.7–1.8 mg/L

1.427

1–2.6 µmol/L

Primidone

5–12 mg/L

4.582

23–55 µmol/L

Procainamide

4–8 mg/L

*up to 12 mg/L may be appropriate in some scenarios

4.249

17–34 µmol/L

*up to 51 µmol/L may be appropriate in some scenarios

Salicylate

150–300 mcg/mL

7.24

1086–2172 µmol/L

Tacrolimus

5–20 mcg/mL

1.217

6.1–24.3 µmol/L

Theophylline

5–15 mg/L

5.55

28–83 µmol/L

Tobramycin

Trough <2 mcg/mL

Peak 5–10 mcg/mL

*range applies to traditional dosing (every 8–12 hrs)

2.139

<4.3 µmol/L

10.7–21 µmol/L

Valproic acid

50–125 mg/L

6.934

347–867 µmol/L

Vancomycin

Trough: 10–20 mcg/mL

*range for traditional trough-based monitoring

0.69

6.9–13.8 µmol/L

Voriconazole

1–6 mg/L

2.863

2.9–17.2

aAlso see Table 5-3 in Chapter 5.

bTraditional units are multiplied by conversion factor to get SI units.

These traditional and SI units are examples and do not necessarily represent current best practice monitoring techniques.

See the chapters discussing the specific medications for more detailed information.

Appendix B.

Nondrug Reference Ranges for Common Laboratory Tests in Traditional and SI Unitsa,b

LABORATORY TEST

REFERENCE RANGE TRADITIONAL UNITS

CONVERSION FACTOR

REFERENCE RANGE SI UNITS

COMMENT

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

7–41 IU/L

0.01667

0.12–0.68 µkat/L

SGPT

Albumin

3.5–5 g/dL

10

35–50 g/L

Alkaline phosphatase

33–96 units/L

0.0167

0.55–1.6 µkat/L

Ammonia (as nitrogen)

19–60 mcg/dL

0.714

13.6–43 µmol/L

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

12–38 IU/L

0.01667

0.2–0.63 µkat/L

SGOT

Bilirubin (direct)

0.1–0.4 mg/dL

17.1

1.7–6.8 µmol/L

Bilirubin (total)

0.3–1.3 mg/dL

17.1

5–22 µmol/L

Calcium (total)

9.2–11 mg/dL

0.25

2.3–2.8 mmol/L

Carbon dioxide (CO2) total content

22–30 mEq/L

1

22–30 mmol/L

Serum bicarbonate

Chloride

95–106 mEq/L

1

95–106 mmol/L

Cholesterol (HDL)

>40 mg/dL

0.026

>1.05 mmol/L

Desirable

Cholesterol (LDL)

<130 mg/dL

0.026

<3.36 mmol/L

Desirable

Creatine kinase (CK)

55–170 IU/L

0.01667

0.92–2.84 µkat/L

Males

30–135 IU/L

0.5–2.25 µkat/L

Females

Creatinine, serum (SCr)

0.6–1.2 mg/dL

88.4

53–106 µmol/L

Adults

Creatinine clearance (CrCl)

90–140 mL/min/1.73 m2

0.017

1.53–2.38 mL/sec/1.73 m2

Folic acid

5–25 ng/mL

2.266

11.33–56.65 nmol/L

γ-glutamyl transpeptidase

9–58 units/L (but varies)

0.01667

0.15–0.97 µkat/L (but varies)

GGT/GGTP

Glucose (fasting)

70–110 mg/dL

0.056

3.9–6.1 mmol/L

Hemoglobin (Hgb)

14–18 g/dL

0.621

8.7–11.2 mmol/L

Males

12–16 g/dL

0.621

7.4–9.9 mmol/L

Females

10

140–180 g/L

Males

10

120–160 g/L

Females

Iron

50–150 mcg/dL

0.179

9–26.9 µmol/L

Lactate (arterial), serum

0.5–2 mEq/L

1

0.5–2 mmol/L

Lactic acid

Lactate (venous), serum

0.5–1.5 mEq/L

1

0.5–1.5 mmol/L

Lactic acid

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)

115–221 IU/L

0.01667

1.92–3.68 µkat/L

Magnesium

1.3–2.1 mEq/L

0.5

0.65–1.05 mmol/L

5′ nucleotidase

0–11 units/L (but varies)

0.01667

0–0.18 µkat/L (but varies)

Phosphate

2.3–4.7 mg/dL

0.3229

0.7–1.52 mmol/L

Potassium

3.5–5 mEq/L

1

3.5–5 mmol/L

Sodium

136–145 mEq/L

1

136–145 mmol/L

Thyroxine (T4), total serum

5–12 mcg/dL

12.87

64–154 nmol/L

Total T4

Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC)

250–410 mcg/dL

0.179

45–73 µmol/L

Triglycerides

<150 mg/dL

0.0113

<1.69 mmol/L

Adults >20 yr

Triiodothyronine (T3), total serum

80–200 ng/dL

0.0154

1.2–3 nmol/L

Total T3

Urea nitrogen, blood (BUN)

8–23 mg/dL

0.357

2.9–8.2 mmol/L

BUN

Uric acid (serum)

2.7–8.5 mg/dL

59.48

161–506 µmol/L

SGOT = serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase; SGPT = serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase.

The values listed in this table may vary depending by testing site, so always refer to site-specific ranges.

aSome laboratories are maintaining traditional units for enzyme tests.

bFor more extensive listing, refer to www.amamanualofstyle.com/page/si-conversion-calculator (accessed 2021 Dec 9).