The full form of mg/dL is milligrams per decilitre. This unit is commonly used in medical testing to express the concentration of a substance in the blood.
Understanding Milligrams per Decilitre (mg/dL)
mg/dL represents the mass in milligrams (mg) of a substance present in each decilitre (dL) of a solution, typically blood. A decilitre is equal to 100 millilitres.
Usage in Medical Testing:
- Blood Glucose Levels: mg/dL is frequently used to measure blood sugar levels. For example, a normal fasting blood glucose level might be between 70 and 100 mg/dL.
- Cholesterol Levels: It is also used to report cholesterol levels, such as LDL (bad) cholesterol or HDL (good) cholesterol.
- Other Blood Analytes: Various other substances in the blood, like creatinine or certain enzymes, are often reported in mg/dL.
Example:
If a blood test result shows a glucose level of 90 mg/dL, it means there are 90 milligrams of glucose in every 100 millilitres of blood.
