MLT ASCP Reference Ranges: Do You Need to Learn Them?

Is getting knowledge about MLT ASCP reference ranges vital to pass the exam?

Yes, of course. They are a part of the syllabus. So, you cannot skip them.

What content do you need to encompass to pass the ASCP medical laboratory technician exam?

These include:

• Seven subjects, including chemistry, hematology, immunology, microbiology, blood bank, laboratory operation, and urine & other body fluids
• Calculations
• Reference ranges

In this blog post, you will know the entire exam syllabus, including MLT ASCP reference ranges.

MLT (ASCP) Exam Content Areas (Subjects): Subject & Main Topics

The following are all subjects and main topics for MLT ASCP certification exam preparation:

Content Area	Main Topics
Blood banking	Blood products Physiology Blood group systems Transfusion practice Physiology Molecular/serologic testing Blood group immunology Pathophysiology.
Chemistry	Toxicology Nutrition Carbohydrates Enzymes Acid-base determination Protein Lipids Therapeutic drug monitoring Nitrogen-comprising compounds Heme derivatives Vitamins Endocrinology Electrolytes
Urine/Other Body Fluids	Disease conditions Chemical/physical experiments Physiology Microscopic testing.
Laboratory Operations	Automated/manual methods Troubleshooting Instruments Safety Lab rules and regulations
Hematology	Lab testing Transplantation Aliments states Physiology Serologic methods Hemostasis
Microbiology	Preanalytical/postanalytical techniques Analytical procedures for virology, mycobacteriology, mycology, parasitology.
Immunology	Immune system diseases Serologic methods Test consequences Infectious disease serology Transplantations.

Calculations

• Manual hemocytometer counts
• Beer’s law
• Time urine calculations
• A/G ratios
• Red blood cell indices
• LDL/non-HDL/ Fridewald equation
• Creatinine clearance calculations
• % UIBC/Transferrin saturation/TIBC
• Indirected biprubin/Unconjugated

MLT ASCP Reference Ranges: Equally Important for Male and Female

MLT ASCP Reference Ranges: For Chemistry

	Conventional Units	SI Units
Chloride	98 – 107 mmol/L	98 – 107 mmol/L
Sodium	136 – 145 mmol/L	136 – 145 mmol/L
Creatinine	0.8 – 1.2 mg/dL	71 – 106 µmol/L
Potassium	3.5 – 5.1 mmol/L	3.5 – 5.1 mmol/L
Total CO2	22 – 33 mmol/L	22 – 33 mmol/L
Hemoglobin A1C	< 5.7%	< 39 mmol/mol
Glucose (fasting)	74 – 100 mg/dL	4.1 – 5.6 mmol/L
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)	6 – 20 mg/dL	2.1 – 7.1 mmol/L
Haptoglobin	30 – 200 mg/dL	0.3 – 2.0 g/L
Arterial blood gases
pCO2	35 – 44 mmHg	4.7 – 5.9 kPa
O2 saturation	> 95%	> 95%
pO2	> 80 mmHg	> 10.6 kPa
HCO3– (bicarbonate)	23 – 29 mmol/L	23 – 29 mmol/L
pH	7.35 – 7.45	7.35 – 7.45

MLT ASCP Reference Ranges: For Hematology

	Conventional Units	SI Units
RBC	4.00 – 6.00 x 106 /μL	4.00 – 6.00 x 1012 /L
MCV	76 – 100 fL	76 – 100 fL
MCHC	32 – 36 g/dL	320 – 360 g/L
HGB	12.0 – 18.0 g/dL	120 – 180 g/L
HCT	35% – 50%	0.35 – 0.50 L/L
MCH	26 – 34 pg	26 – 34 pg
RDW	11.5 – 14.5%	0.115 – 0.145
Reticulocytes (absolute)	20 – 115 x 103 /μL	20 – 115 x 09 /L
Reticulocytes (relative)	0.5 – 2.5%	0.005 – 0.025
Platelets	150 – 450 x 103 /μL	150 – 450 x 109 /L
nRBCs	0 nRBC/100 WBC	0 nRBC/100 WBC
WBC (Total)	3.6 – 10.6 x 103 /μL	3.6 – 10.6 x 109/L
Lymphocytes (absolute)	1.0 – 3.2 x 103 /μL	1.0 – 3.2 x 109 /L
Lymphocytes (relative)	18 – 42%	0.18 – 0.42
Basophils (absolute)	0 – 0.2 x 103 /μL	0 – 0.2 x 109 /L
Basophils (relative)	0 – 2%	0.00 – 0.02

MLT ASCP Reference Ranges: For Body Fluids

	Conventional Units	SI Units
Cerebrospinal Fluids (CSF)
Glucose	50 – 80 mg/dL	2.8 – 4.4 mmol/L
WBC and RBC	0 – 5/μL	0 – 5 x 106 /L
Protein	15 – 45 mg/dL	150 – 450 mg/L
Urine
Leukocyte esterase	negative	negative
Protein	< 10 mg/dL, trace, or negative	< 10 mg/dL, trace, or negative
pH	4.5 – 8.0	4.5 – 8.0
Microscopic
WBC	0 – 8/HPF	0 – 8/HPF
RBC	0 – 3/HPF	0 – 3/HPF
Seminal Fluid
Volume	2 – 5 mL	2 – 5 mL
Sperm concentration	> 20 x 106 /mL	> 20 x 109 /L

Some other MLT ASCP reference ranges you will see in the exam. These ranges may be given as needed in the exam by interrupting the above reference ranges.