This converter changes common lab values between conventional units such as mg/dL and SI units such as mmol/L. It uses the conversion factors listed below. A conversion changes the scale, not the measurement, and it does not tell you whether a value is normal or replace the units and range on your report.
What this converter does
Every lab result has a value, a unit, and a reference range. When two reports use different units, the values look different even when the measurement is the same. This converter changes the scale so the numbers can be compared. It does not change the underlying result, and it does not choose a range.
The factors below are approximate, because they depend on the molecular weight of the marker and on conventional rounding. Keep the precision the report gives you. A converted value is for orientation; the reported value in its reported unit is the one that belongs to the report.
Conversion factors
Multiply the conventional value by the factor to get the SI value. Divide to go the other way.
| Marker | Conventional | SI | Multiply by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glucose | mg/dL | mmol/L | 0.0555 |
| Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL | mg/dL | mmol/L | 0.0259 |
| Triglycerides | mg/dL | mmol/L | 0.0113 |
| Creatinine | mg/dL | umol/L | 88.4 |
| Uric acid | mg/dL | umol/L | 59.48 |
| Bilirubin | mg/dL | umol/L | 17.1 |
| Calcium | mg/dL | mmol/L | 0.2495 |
| Vitamin D (25-hydroxy) | ng/mL | nmol/L | 2.496 |
| Vitamin B12 | pg/mL | pmol/L | 0.738 |
| Testosterone | ng/dL | nmol/L | 0.0347 |
| Haemoglobin | g/dL | g/L | 10 |
| Ferritin | ng/mL | ug/L | 1 |
The factors follow the lab report units guide and standard molecular-weight conversions. HbA1c uses a separate equation and has its own HbA1c calculator.
How to use it
- Find the value and the unit printed on the report.
- Choose the marker. Different markers use different factors, even when the units look similar.
- Choose the direction: conventional to SI, or SI to conventional.
- Compare the converted value with a value in the same unit. Do not compare a converted number with a number in a different scale.
What the result means, and what it does not
The result is the same measurement on the other scale. It does not tell you whether the value is in range, and it does not replace the range printed on the report. A conversion also does not correct for differences in assay, calibration, or sample handling between two laboratories.
This matters when two reports use different units. After conversion, the numbers can still differ for reasons that have nothing to do with the person. A small difference between two laboratories is not automatically a real change.
Limitations
- Approximate factors. The factors are rounded, and the molecular weight used can vary slightly between sources.
- Not every marker. The table covers common markers, not every test on a report.
- Assay differences remain. A conversion changes the scale, not the method.
- Rounding. A laboratory may round a value before printing it, so a converted value can differ slightly from another printed value.
- HbA1c is separate. The percentage and mmol/mol scales use a different equation.
What this page is not
This converter is a unit conversion. It is not a diagnosis, a range, a treatment recommendation, or medical advice. It does not replace the value, unit, or range on your report. Verify the original value and unit against the report and discuss the result with a qualified professional.