Calculated Serum Osmolality
Calculated serum osmolality percentiles describe the NHANES chemistry-formula distribution in US adults.
Unit: mmol/kg · 12 slices · age and sex · 1 source
Filed under panels: Renal Function , Electrolyte Panel · topics: Metabolic , Renal , Electrolytes
NHANES calculates serum osmolality from sodium, glucose, and blood urea nitrogen rather than measuring it with an osmometer. These survey-weighted percentiles describe the full US adult population and are not clinical laboratory intervals.
Population Distribution
Browse by Demographic
| Age (years) | male (mmol/kg) | female (mmol/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 275–288 (281) | 271–286 (278) |
| 30-39 | 273–288 (281) | 270–287 (279) |
| 40-49 | 275–289 (281) | 272–286 (279) |
| 50-59 | 273–291 (281) | 272–291 (282) |
| 60-69 | 274–291 (282) | 274–291 (283) |
| 70+ | 274–294 (284) | 270–293 (284) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Was serum osmolality measured directly?
No. NHANES calculated this value from sodium, glucose, and blood urea nitrogen on the chemistry analyzer.
What formula did NHANES use?
NHANES documents the formula as 1.86 times sodium, plus glucose divided by 18, plus BUN divided by 2.8, plus 9.
Are these clinical reference intervals?
No. They are population percentiles for a calculated chemistry value and are not laboratory decision limits.