Clinical Chemistry
Analytes, metabolic panels, enzymes, electrolytes, and chemistry laboratory methods.
Concise Clinical Chemistry laboratory test references for rapid Medical Laboratory Science lookup: specimen requirements, methods, reference values, interpretation, and laboratory pearls.
89 references in this catalogue
Catalogue references
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ACTH
Adrenocorticotropic hormone immunoassay; pairs with cortisol to localize adrenal insufficiency or Cushing patterns.
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AFP
α-Fetoprotein immunoassay; oncofetal protein used in selected tumor and pregnancy laboratory pathways.
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Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
Cytosolic hepatocellular enzyme (formerly SGPT); a primary laboratory marker of hepatocellular injury.
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Albumin
Major circulating plasma protein synthesized by the liver; marker of synthetic function, nutrition, and oncotic pressure.
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Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
Enzyme from liver, bone, intestine, and placenta; used in cholestatic and bone-turnover laboratory patterns.
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Ammonia
Plasma ammonia; critical preanalytical analyte for hepatic encephalopathy and urea-cycle evaluations.
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Amylase
Pancreatic and salivary hydrolase activity; supportive pancreatic enzyme, less specific than lipase for pancreatitis.
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Anion Gap
Calculated difference between measured cations and anions; a laboratory index used in metabolic acidosis classification.
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Apolipoprotein A1
Major structural protein of HDL measured by immunoassay; refined HDL-related risk marker.
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Apolipoprotein B
One apoB per atherogenic particle; a powerful laboratory estimate of atherogenic particle number.
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Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
Aminotransferase present in liver, muscle, and other tissues (formerly SGOT); rises with hepatocellular or muscle injury.
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Bicarbonate (Total CO₂)
Total carbon dioxide / bicarbonate estimate on chemistry analyzers; surrogate for metabolic acid–base status.
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BNP
B-type natriuretic peptide immunoassay used in heart failure evaluation; method-specific cutoffs.
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C-Peptide
Connecting peptide from proinsulin cleavage; laboratory marker of endogenous insulin secretion.
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C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Acute-phase pentraxin immunoassay; sensitive laboratory marker of systemic inflammation; hs-CRP uses lower measuring ranges for cardiovascular risk.
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CA 19-9
Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 immunoassay; tumor-marker used mainly in pancreaticobiliary disease monitoring; Lewis-negative individuals may not express it.
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Calcium (Total)
Total serum calcium (bound + free); interpret with albumin; confirm physiologically relevant changes with ionized calcium when needed.
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Calculated Osmolality
Derived estimate of serum osmolality from sodium, glucose, and urea/BUN; used with measured osmolality to compute the osmolar gap.
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CEA
Carcinoembryonic antigen immunoassay; tumor-marker primarily for monitoring selected adenocarcinomas, not population screening.
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Chloride
Major extracellular anion by ISE; interpreted with sodium and bicarbonate for acid–base patterns.
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CK-MB
CK-MB isoenzyme (mass or activity); historically used for MI; largely replaced by cardiac troponin but still used in selected contexts.
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Cortisol
Glucocorticoid immunoassay with strong diurnal variation; timing and dynamic testing matter more than a random value.
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Creatine Kinase (CK)
Total creatine kinase activity; rises with skeletal muscle injury and, less specifically today, myocardial injury.
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Creatinine
Serum/plasma creatinine; the most widely used laboratory marker for estimating glomerular filtration rate.
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Cystatin C
Low-molecular-weight cysteine protease inhibitor used as an alternative/adjunct GFR marker less dependent on muscle mass than creatinine.
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DHEA-S
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate immunoassay; adrenal androgen marker used in androgen excess evaluations.
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Digoxin
Therapeutic drug monitoring immunoassay; timing relative to dose is mandatory for interpretable levels.
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Direct Bilirubin
Primarily conjugated (and some delta) bilirubin reacting directly with diazo reagent; marks conjugated hyperbilirubinemia patterns.
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eGFR
Estimated glomerular filtration rate calculated from creatinine and/or cystatin C using validated equations (e.g., CKD-EPI); a reporting index, not a direct assay.
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Estradiol
17β-estradiol immunoassay or mass spectrometry; sex-steroid measurement with method-dependent accuracy at low concentrations.
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Ethanol
Blood/plasma/serum ethanol by enzymatic assay or headspace GC; legal/forensic thresholds differ from clinical reporting units.
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Ferritin
Iron-storage protein immunoassay; best routine laboratory index of iron stores, but also an acute-phase reactant.
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Folate
Serum (or RBC) folate immunoassay; evaluates folate status in macrocytic anemia and deficiency pathways.
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Free PSA
Unbound PSA fraction used with total PSA to refine prostate risk laboratory patterns in selected pathways.
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Free T3
Unbound triiodothyronine immunoassay; useful in selected hyperthyroidism evaluations.
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Free T4
Unbound thyroxine immunoassay; pairs with TSH for thyroid status laboratory interpretation.
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Fructosamine
Glycated serum protein assay reflecting shorter-term glycemia than HbA1c; used when A1c is unreliable.
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FSH
Follicle-stimulating hormone immunoassay; gonadotropin used in reproductive and menopause laboratory assessment.
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Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
Microsomal enzyme sensitive to hepatobiliary induction and cholestasis; used to clarify ALP elevations.
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Globulin
Calculated globulin fraction (total protein − albumin) used as a rapid screen for globulin excess or deficiency patterns.
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Glucose
Blood, plasma, or serum glucose measurement used in the laboratory evaluation of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
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Haptoglobin
Acute-phase protein that binds free hemoglobin; decreases in intravascular hemolysis and rises as an acute-phase reactant.
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HDL Cholesterol
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol fraction used in cardiovascular risk lipid panels.
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Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
Glycated hemoglobin fraction reflecting average glycemia over prior weeks . IFCC-standardized reporting in mmol/mol with NGSP %-equivalent.
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Homocysteine
Sulfur amino acid immunoassay/enzymatic assay; rises in B12/folate deficiency and selected thrombophilia risk assessments.
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Indirect Bilirubin
Calculated unconjugated bilirubin (total − direct) used to recognize hemolysis and Gilbert-pattern unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.
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Insulin
Immunoassay of circulating insulin; interpret only with a simultaneous glucose (and often C-peptide).
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Ionized Calcium
Free (unbound) calcium by ISE; the physiologically active fraction, preferred in critical care and when albumin is abnormal.
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Iron
Serum iron concentration; diurnal and diet-sensitive; interpret only as part of iron studies.
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Lactate
Plasma/blood lactate measurement used as a marker of tissue hypoperfusion and anaerobic metabolism; highly preanalytical-sensitive.
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Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)
Ubiquitous cytoplasmic enzyme elevated with tissue injury, hemolysis, and some malignancies; nonspecific but useful laboratory adjunct.
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LDL Cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; primary lipid treatment target in many cardiovascular guidelines; measured directly or calculated.
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LH
Luteinizing hormone immunoassay; gonadotropin for ovulation and hypogonadism laboratory patterns.
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Lipase
Pancreatic lipase activity; preferred laboratory enzyme for acute pancreatitis evaluation in most contemporary pathways.
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Lipoprotein(a)
Genetically determined LDL-like particle with apo(a); causal ASCVD risk marker measured by isoform-sensitive immunoassays.
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Lithium
Flame photometry/ISE/colorimetric TDM for lithium carbonate therapy; 12-hour trough timing is standard.
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Magnesium
Serum/plasma magnesium; essential electrolyte for neuromuscular and cardiac stability; often overlooked.
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Myoglobin
Heme protein released early from injured muscle; historically used for MI; now mainly a rhabdomyolysis/muscle injury adjunct.
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Non-HDL Cholesterol
Calculated atherogenic cholesterol (total − HDL) encompassing LDL, VLDL, and remnant particles; robust when triglycerides are elevated.
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NT-proBNP
N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide; preferred HF biomarker on many platforms; age-stratified cutoffs.
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Osmolality (Measured)
Freezing-point (or vapor-pressure) measurement of serum/plasma/urine osmolality; the reference approach for tonicity and osmolar gap assessment.
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Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)
Intact PTH immunoassay; interpret strictly with simultaneous calcium (and preferably vitamin D/phosphate).
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Phosphate
Inorganic phosphate measurement; bone–mineral and refeeding/critical-care electrolyte.
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Potassium
Major intracellular cation measured by ISE; critical for cardiac conduction risk; highly vulnerable to preanalytical artifact.
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Prealbumin
Transthyretin immunoassay; shorter half-life nutritional/acute-phase marker than albumin.
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Procalcitonin
Peptide precursor of calcitonin used as an adjunct laboratory marker in bacterial infection/sepsis pathways; cutoffs are assay- and protocol-specific.
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Progesterone
Progesterone immunoassay; documents ovulation (luteal phase) and supports selected pregnancy assessments.
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Prolactin
Anterior pituitary hormone immunoassay; interpret macroprolactin and hook effect when results and clinical picture conflict.
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Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
Kallikrein protease immunoassay used in prostate disease laboratory pathways; screening policy is clinical, not laboratory-driven alone.
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Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPEP)
Separation of serum proteins into albumin and globulin fractions; laboratory screen for monoclonal proteins with reflex immunofixation.
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Sodium
Major extracellular cation measured by ISE; central electrolyte for water balance and neurologic risk assessment.
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Testosterone
Total testosterone by immunoassay or LC-MS/MS; morning timing and method matter, especially at low concentrations.
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Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Pituitary glycoprotein immunoassay; first-line laboratory test for thyroid dysfunction screening.
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TIBC / Transferrin
Total iron-binding capacity or transferrin; reflects iron-binding sites; rises in iron deficiency and falls as an acute-phase reactant.
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Total Bilirubin
Sum of conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin; core laboratory marker of jaundice and hemolysis/hepatic excretory dysfunction.
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Total Cholesterol
Enzymatic measurement of circulating cholesterol; foundational lipid panel analyte for cardiovascular risk laboratory assessment.
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Total Protein
Sum of serum/plasma proteins (mainly albumin and globulins); a basic protein status laboratory measure.
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Total T3
Total triiodothyronine immunoassay; binding-protein sensitive; used in selected thyrotoxicosis assessments.
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Total T4
Total thyroxine immunoassay; influenced by binding proteins; largely superseded by free T4 for routine care.
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Transferrin Saturation
Calculated percentage of transferrin iron-binding sites occupied (serum iron ÷ TIBC × 100); key iron-study index.
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Triglycerides
Glycerol-based enzymatic measurement of circulating triglycerides; fasting status and lipemia matter.
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Troponin I (Cardiac)
Cardiac troponin I immunoassay; a preferred laboratory biomarker of myocardial injury; high-sensitivity assays detect ng/L concentrations.
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Troponin T (Cardiac)
Cardiac troponin T immunoassay (including hs-cTnT); myocardial injury biomarker with assay-specific 99th-percentile limits.
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Urea (BUN)
Blood urea nitrogen / urea measurement reflecting protein catabolism and renal excretion; report units may be urea or BUN.
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Uric Acid
Serum/plasma urate measurement used in gout evaluation, tumor lysis monitoring, and selected metabolic assessments.
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Urine Albumin–Creatinine Ratio (uACR)
Spot urine albumin normalized to creatinine; preferred laboratory screen for albuminuria in CKD and diabetes pathways (KDIGO/ADA).
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Vitamin B12
Cobalamin immunoassay; screen for deficiency; confirm borderline results with MMA/homocysteine when indicated.
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Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy)
25-hydroxyvitamin D immunoassay or LC-MS/MS; best routine laboratory marker of vitamin D status.
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β-hCG
Human chorionic gonadotropin immunoassay; pregnancy detection/monitoring and selected tumor-marker uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about using this Clinical Chemistry laboratory test catalogue Medical Laboratory Library reference in Medical Laboratory Science education.
What Clinical Chemistry laboratory tests are in this catalogue?
This Medical Laboratory Library catalogue lists published Clinical Chemistry laboratory tests for rapid reference lookup, including specimen, method, reference values, and interpretation sections where available.
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