Table 5. Laboratory Tests in the Workup of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Children1,29–31
TestDescriptionNormal ResultsComments
Complete blood countPeripheral whole-blood sample for hemoglobin, hematocrit, and plateletsAgeValues in Males (g/dL)Values in Females (g/dL)Requirement for transfusion is based on a patient's underlying illness and overall clinical presentation. Ranges may vary by institution or laboratory.
Newborn13–2213–22
1–24 Months9.5–149.5–14
2–10 Years11.5–14.511.5–14.5
10–17 Years12.5–16.112–15
Adults13.5–1812.5–16
Hemoglobin:
AgeValues in Males (%)Values in Females (%)
Newborn45–6745–67
1–2 Months31–5531–55
2–3 Months28–4228–42
3–6 Months29–4129–41
6–24 Months33–3933–39
2–10 Years34–4534–45
10–17 Years37–4937–49
Adult41–5336–46
Hematocrit:
AgeValues in Males (g/dL)Values in Females (g/dL)
Newborn to adult140–450 × 109/L140–450 × 109/L
Platelets:
Chemistry profileAge (Years)Values in Males (U/L)Values in Females (U/L)Elevated liver enzymes may indicate underlying liver disease.
0–535–14020–93
6–320–6020–93
4–615–5016–61
7–914–4015–40
10–1110–6010–40
12–1515–405–30
Aspartate transaminase:
AgeValues in Males (U/L)Values in Females (U/L)
1–7 Days20–5421–54
8–30 Days24–5422–46
1–3 Months27–5426–61
4–6 Months27–5426–61
7–12 Months26–5926–55
1–3 Years19–5924–59
4–6 Years24–4924–49
10–11 Years24–4924–44
12–13 Years24–6824–44
14–15 Years24–5919–44
16–19 Years24–5419–49
Alanine aminotransferase:
AgeValues in Males (U/L)Values in Females (U/L)
1–30 Days16–45016–450
1–3 Months16–26716–267
3–5 Months16–16716–167
5–8 Months8–848–84
9 Months to 17 years5–555–55
>17 Years15–855–55
γ-Glutamyl-transferase:
AgeValues in Males (mg/dL)Values in Females (mg/dL)
1 Month to adult0.2–1.20.2–1.2
Total bilirubin:
AgeValues in Males (mg/dL)Values in Females (mg/dL)A BUN-to-creatinine ratio >30 has excellent specificity (98%) and good sensitivity (68.8%) for UGIB.
0–3 Days0.2–10.2–1
4 Days to 2 years0.2–0.50.2–0.6
2–4 Years0.3–0.60.2–0.7
5–7 Years0.2–0.70.2–0.8
8–10 Years0.3–0.80.3–0.9
11–12 Years0.3–0.90.3–1
13–17 Years0.3–1.10.3–1.2
>17 Years0.3–1.10.5–1.3
Creatinine:
AgeValues in Males (mg/dL)Values in Females (mg/dL)
0 Days to adult6–176–17
BUN:
Coagulation studiesVenous sample from citrated tube for PT/INR, PTTPT: 11–15 sec INR: 1
PTT: 25–35 sec		Prolonged PT/INR or PTT may indicate preexisting coagulopathy, liver dysfunction, or acute illness such as sepsis or disseminated intravascular coagulation.

  • BUN, blood urea nitrogen; INR, international normalized ratio; PT, prothrombin time; PTT, partial thromboplastin time; UGIB, upper gastrointestinal bleeding.