Lab Test Results: Units of Measurement

Topic Overview

Lab test results usually contain some type of unit of measurement. The units provide a way to report results so that they can be compared. Usually, but not always, the same test is reported in the same units no matter which lab did the test. Units of measurement that may be used for lab test results include:

• Femtoliters.
• Grams (g).
• Grams per deciliter (g/dL).
• Grams per liter (g/L).
• International units per liter (IU/L).
• International units per milliliter (IU/mL).
• Micrograms (mcg).
• Micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL).
• Micrograms per liter (mcg/L).
• Microkatals per liter (mckat/L).
• Microliters (mcL).
• Micromoles per liter (mcmol/L).
• Milliequivalents (mEq).
• Milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L).
• Milligrams (mg).
• Milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
• Milligrams per liter (mg/L).
• Milli-international units per liter (mIU/L).
• Milliliters (mL).
• Millimeters (mm).
• Millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
• Millimoles (mmol).
• Millimoles per liter (mmol/L).
• Milliosmoles per kilogram of water (mOsm/kg water).
• Milliunits per gram (mU/g).
• Milliunits per liter (mU/L).
• Nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL).
• Nanograms per liter (ng/L).
• Nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL).
• Nanograms per milliliter per hour (ng/mL/hr).
• Nanomoles (nmol).
• Nanomoles per liter (nmol/L).
• Picograms (pg).
• Picograms per milliliter (pg/mL).
• Picomoles per liter (pmol/L).
• Titers.
• Units per liter (U/L).
• Units per milliliter (U/mL).