Development of normal values for use in multitest biochemical screening of sera.

Ageand sex-related “normal” values were calculated for data obtained by screening 8015 patients’ sera with the Technicon SMA 12/60 at the time of hospital admission. Calcium, phosphorus, total protein, and albumin concentrations decrease with age; glucose, urea nitrogen, cholesterol, and lactic dehydrogenase concentrations increase. Uric acid concentration increases with age in women. Mean values for calcium, glucose, urea nitrogen, and uric acid concentrations are greater in men. Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic acid transaminase activity is most frequently abnormal, total protein concentration least frequently. Alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin results were unremarkable.