Units Conversion factors

1. The world health organization’s recommendation is to use SI units (Systeme International of d’Unities).
2. These SI units are used in the laboratory test, preparation of reagents, and reporting of the results.

We are going to discuss how to convert SI units to conventional units and vice versa.

• To convert from a conventional unit to an SI Unit, multiply by the conversion factor.
• To convert from SI units to conventional units, divide by the conversion factor.

Units Conversion factors from conventional to SI units:

Test	Conventional unit	Conversion Factor	S I unit
Biochemistry
Albumin	g/dL	10	g/L
alpha1-Antitrypsin	mg /dL	0.184	micromole/L
Alanine	mg / dL	112.2	micromole/L
Bicarbonate (HCO3)	mEq/L	1.0	mmol /L
PCO2	mm/Hg	0.133	kpa
PO2	mm/Hg	0.133	kpa
Bilirubin	mg /dL	17.1	micromole /L
C-peptide	ng / mL	0.333	nmol /L
C-complement	mg /mL	0.01	g /L
Aldosterone	ng / dL	0.0277	nmol / L
LDH isoenzymes	%	0.01	proportion of 1.0
Calcitonin	pg. / mL	1.0	ng / L
Calcium total	mg / dL	0.25	mmol / L
Calcium ionized	mEq /L	0.50	mmol / L
Carbon Dioxide	mEq /L	1.0	mmol / L
Ceruloplasmin	mg / dL	10	mg / L
Chloride	mEq / l	1.0	mmol / L
Cholesterol	mg / dL	0.0259	mmol / L
Copper	µg /dL	0.157	micromole / L
Corticotropin ACTH	pg. /mL	0.22	pmol/L
Cortisol	µg /dL	27.59	nmol/L
Creatinine	mg / dL	88.4	micromole/L
Creatinine Clearance	mL / min	0.0167	mL / S
Lipid total	mg / dL	0.01	0.01
Glucose	mg/dL	0.0555	mmol/L
Iron total	µg/dL	0.179	micro-mol/L
Lactic acid	mg/dL	0.111	mmol/L
Lead	µg/dL	0.0483	micro-mol/L
Magnesium	mg/L	0.411	mmol/L
Phosphorus	mg/dL	0.323	mmol/L
Potassium	meq/L	1.0	mmol/L
Sodium	meq/L	1.0	mmol/L
Lithium	meq/L	1.0	µmol/L
LDL-C	mg/dL	0.0259	mmol/L
Urea nitrogen	mg/dL	0.0357	mmol/L
Uric acid	mg/dL	59.48	micromol/L
Triglycerides	mg/dL	0.0113	mmol/L
Methanol	mg/dL	0.0312	mmol/L
Protein total	g/dL	10.0	g/L
Hb A1c	% total of Hb	0.01	The proportion of total Hb
AST	U/L	0.0167	µkat/L
Creatinine clearance	mL/min	0.0167	mL/s
Ammonia	µg/dL	0.587	µmol/L
Hematology
Hct	%	0.01	The proportion of 1.0
Hemoglobin	g/dL	10.0	g/L
Vit. B	ng/mL	0.0738	pmol/L
Troponin I	ng/mL	1.0	µg/L
Troponin T	ng/mL	1.0	µg/L
Transferrin	mg/dL	0.01	g/L
Iron	mg/dL	0.179	µmol/L
Total Iron binding capacity (TIBC)	µg/dL	0.179	micro-mol/L
Fibrinogen	mg/dL	0.0294	micro-mol/L
Ferritin	ng/mL	2.247	pmol/L
Hormones
Antidiuretic hormone	pg/mL	0.923	pmol / L
DHEA	ng / mL	3.47	nmol / L
Estradiol	pg. /dL	3.671	pmol / L
Cortisol	µg/dL	0.0276	µmol/L
AFP	ng / mL	1.0	µg / L
HDL-C	mg / dL	0.0259	mmol / L
HCG	mIU / mL	1.0	IU / L
Insulin	micro-IU / mL	6.945	pmol / L
alpha 1-antitrypsin	mg / dL	0.184	micro-mol / L
Progesterone	ng / mL	3.18	mmol / L
Prolactin	µg / L	43.478	pmol
PSA	ng / mL	1.0	µg/ L
Testosterone	ng / dL	0.0347	nmol / L
Free T 4	ng / dL	12.87	pmol / L
Total T 4	µg/dL	12.9	nmol / L
Free T3	pg / dL	0.0154	pmol / L
Total T3	ng / dL	0.0154	nmol / L
Temperature conversion chart
Temperature	0 °C	F = (C x 1.8) + 32	32 °F
	10 °C		52 °F
	20  °C		68 °F
	30  °C		86 °F
	36.9 °C		98.4 °F
	40 °C		104 °F

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