Significant Differences
Clinical
Biochemistry



The table provides a list of values for individual analytes which is a guide to the magnitude of change which is necessary between successive results to be regarded as significant. That is, a difference greater than that which could be accounted for by normal biological and analytical variability. For further information, contact the Duty Biochemist on ext 4230.

Analyte Reference Range Units (%) Change If the 1st
analytical result was		 Significant change would be
<    or >
Sodium 133-146 mmol/l 2.9 140 136   144
Potassium 3.5-5.3 mmol/l 13.9 4.4 3.8   5.0
Urea 2.5-7.8 mmol/l 34.7 5.0 3.3   6.7
Creatinine 50-130 µmol/l 13.0 90 78   102
Calcium (Adjusted) 2.20-2.60 mmol/l 7.2 2.4 2.23   2.57
Phosphate 0.80-1.50 mmol/l 26.4 1.20 0.88   1.52
Albumin 35-50 g/l 10.4 42 38   46
Protein (Total) 60-80 g/l 8.4 70 64   76
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) 30-130 U/l 19.1 100
200		 81
162		   119
238
Bilirubin (Total) <21 µmol/l 71.9 10 3   17
Alanine Amino Transferase (ALT) <35 U/l 67.7 20
50		 6
16		   34
84
Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Male <50
Female <35		 U/l 41.0 40
20		 24
12		   56
28
Magnesium 0.7-1.0 mmol/l 10.9 0.85 0.76   0.94
Cholesterol   mmol/l 17.3 5.0 4.1   5.9
Triglycerides <2.3 mmol/l 58.0 2.0 0.8   3.2
Uric Acid Male 200-430
Female 140-360		 µmol/l 24.2 300
200		 227
152		   373
248