Laboratory Values Interpretation Resources

APTA Acute Care's Practice Committee Task Force on Lab Values reviewed and updated the Laboratory Values Interpretation Resource to better align with emerging evidence, current practice, and practitioners’ clinical decision-making needs.

This recent edition contains updates to content from the previous version. Each laboratory test captured in this revised version has the following: a brief explanation of the test or laboratory panel, reference values, clinical presentation, clinical implications and a new point of care document with key laboratory values.

Physical therapists have the professional responsibility to provide excellent care, adhere to high standards, and collaborate with other healthcare providers to achieve optimal health outcomes for their patients. Acute care physical therapists work in an environment that is quickly evolving and therefore should be knowledgeable regarding critical laboratory values to develop safe mobility recommendations. As critical values might evolve quickly in the acute care setting, physical therapists should be vigilant in reevaluating safe and effective patient management. Although the recommendations made in the Laboratory Values Interpretation Resource are evidence-based, the final judgment regarding the appropriateness of particular physical therapy interventions should be made by the clinician considering the policies of their institution.