On this page
Start here
- [How to read a blood test](/how-to-read-a-blood-test) – a step-by-step guide to lab reports: flags, reference intervals, units, patterns and when to act.
- [mg/dL to µmol/L converter](/mg-dl-to-umol-l) – creatinine, uric acid, bilirubin and any custom substance, with a table of common SI conversion factors.
- [mEq to mg converter](/meq-to-mg) – electrolytes and their salts, including potassium chloride, sodium chloride and calcium gluconate.
- [Dosage calculator](/dosage-calculator) – converts a prescribed dose into the volume to measure from a liquid medicine (it does not suggest doses).
- [NBME lab values](/nbme-lab-values) – the USMLE reference ranges in a searchable table, in US and SI units.
All-in-one lab conversion tools
If you have results from another country, a research paper in different units, or simply want to check what a number means, start here:
- [Lab values converter](/lab-unit-converter) – every one of the 29 tests on AskDr in a single tool. Choose the test, enter a value, and convert between US conventional and SI units.
- [mg/dL to mmol/L converter](/mg-dl-to-mmol-l) – focused on the tests most often reported in mg/dL: glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium, magnesium, phosphate and urea.
- [Normal lab values chart](/normal-lab-values-chart) – a searchable chart of typical adult reference ranges in both unit systems.
For the most-searched conversion of all – A1C to average glucose – use our [A1C calculator and chart](/a1c-calculator).
Why there is no single conversion factor
Converting mg/dL to mmol/L depends on the molar mass of each substance: mmol/L = mg/dL × 10 ÷ molar mass. Glucose (180 g/mol) uses a factor of 0.0555, cholesterol (387 g/mol) 0.0259 and triglycerides (885 g/mol) 0.0113. Creatinine, uric acid and bilirubin are reported in µmol/L, so their factors are larger (88.4, 59.48 and 17.1). Hormones use nmol/L or pmol/L, each with its own factor.
| Test | Multiply US value by | To get |
|---|---|---|
| Glucose (mg/dL) | 0.0555 | mmol/L |
| Cholesterol (mg/dL) | 0.0259 | mmol/L |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 0.0113 | mmol/L |
| Creatinine (mg/dL) | 88.4 | µmol/L |
| Vitamin D (ng/mL) | 2.496 | nmol/L |
| Testosterone (ng/dL) | 0.0347 | nmol/L |
The five most common conversion mistakes
- Using one factor for everything – dividing cholesterol by 18 (the glucose factor) gives a result more than twice too high.
- Confusing BUN with urea – US BUN counts only the nitrogen in urea; multiply BUN by 0.357 to get urea in mmol/L.
- Mixing cholesterol and triglyceride factors.
- Misreading prefixes – creatinine of 88 µmol/L is not 88 mmol/L.
- Comparing with another lab's reference range – always use the range on your own report.
How reference ranges work
A reference range typically covers the middle 95% of results from healthy people, so 1 in 20 healthy people will be slightly outside it for any test. Ranges differ between laboratories and with age, sex and pregnancy. Some "ranges" – such as for glucose, A1C, cholesterol and vitamin D – are actually clinical decision limits set by guidelines. The normal lab values chart explains these differences in detail.
Privacy
All conversions and calculations on AskDr run in your browser. The values you type are not sent to or stored on our servers.
Frequently asked questions
Which unit system does my country use?
The US mostly uses conventional units (mg/dL). The UK, Europe, Canada, Australia and most other countries use SI units (mmol/L).
Are enzyme results (ALT, AST) converted?
Usually not. Most countries report them in U/L.
Is HbA1c converted with a factor?
No. Percent and mmol/mol are linked by a master equation. Use the [HbA1c converter](/hba1c-mmol-mol-to-percent).