Welcome to Lab Guide!
7/22/25- Changes to Magnesium Reporting Units
FROM: Adina Badea, Ph.D., Director (Interim), Clinical Chemistry Services Effective July 22nd, the Brown University Health Clinical Chemistry Laboratory will change reporting units for Magnesium testing, from mEq/L to mg/dL. This change is a coordinated effort with BUH Pharmacy, which will implement an electrolyte repletion protocol updated with the new units. These efforts reflect an alignment in practice with peer institutions.
There is a 1.2 conversion factor from mEq/L to mg/dL. As a result, the reportable ranges will be as follows:
| | mEq/L (old) | mg/dL (new) |
| Reportable range | 0.5 – 7.9 | 0.6 – 9.5 |
| Reference range | 1.3 – 1.9 | 1.6– 2.3 |
| Critical Low | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| Critical High | 2.4 | 2.9 |
To help with this transition, the Chemistry Laboratory will display all Magnesium results with the following note, for the first two months post implementation:
Please note the units changed to mg/dL on 7/22/25. To convert results prior to 7/22/25 (in mEq/L) to current units for trending purposes, please multiply the old result by 1.2 e.g. 1 mEq/L = 1.2 mg/dL. All adjustments to reference ranges and critical value thresholds have been made.
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12/11/2023 - Urinalysis with Reflex Culture- Memo - Please refer to Nursing Practice Alert for more details on placing orders, urine culture workflow and collections with new kit. These kits are only being used in ED and Inpatient units. New BD urine collection kits with UA and Micro culture tube to be used on Inpatient Units and Emergency Departments. If needed, white top/black ring (no additive) should be used for all other urine Chemistry testing.
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Welcome to Lab Guide!
7/22/25- Changes to Magnesium Reporting Units
FROM: Adina Badea, Ph.D., Director (Interim), Clinical Chemistry Services Effective July 22nd, the Brown University Health Clinical Chemistry Laboratory will change reporting units for Magnesium testing, from mEq/L to mg/dL. This change is a coordinated effort with BUH Pharmacy, which will implement an electrolyte repletion protocol updated with the new units. These efforts reflect an alignment in practice with peer institutions.
There is a 1.2 conversion factor from mEq/L to mg/dL. As a result, the reportable ranges will be as follows:
| | mEq/L (old) | mg/dL (new) |
| Reportable range | 0.5 – 7.9 | 0.6 – 9.5 |
| Reference range | 1.3 – 1.9 | 1.6– 2.3 |
| Critical Low | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| Critical High | 2.4 | 2.9 |
To help with this transition, the Chemistry Laboratory will display all Magnesium results with the following note, for the first two months post implementation:
Please note the units changed to mg/dL on 7/22/25. To convert results prior to 7/22/25 (in mEq/L) to current units for trending purposes, please multiply the old result by 1.2 e.g. 1 mEq/L = 1.2 mg/dL. All adjustments to reference ranges and critical value thresholds have been made.
*************************************************************************************
12/11/2023 - Urinalysis with Reflex Culture- Memo - Please refer to Nursing Practice Alert for more details on placing orders, urine culture workflow and collections with new kit. These kits are only being used in ED and Inpatient units. New BD urine collection kits with UA and Micro culture tube to be used on Inpatient Units and Emergency Departments. If needed, white top/black ring (no additive) should be used for all other urine Chemistry testing.
