Evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM) only. Every value on this page carries a named source.
All 51 values on this page are traced to a named source. Every sourced entry is traced to a named laboratory reference document, an established veterinary clinical pathology reference, or peer-reviewed literature — hover it to see where it came from. We never fill a gap by analogy with a related species.
Reference intervals for the rat — biochemistry, haematology, urinalysis and specialised tests, in one place, with the provenance of every value stated.
Take the data with you. Every row carries the value and the source it came from, so each number can be checked at its origin without coming back here. Free to reuse with attribution.
51
cited values
5
sections
8
sources
Read this before you use the table. Reference intervals are analyser- and method-dependent. The interval printed on your own laboratory report always takes precedence over any published table, including this one. These figures are for orientation and teaching. They are not a diagnosis and do not replace examination by a veterinarian.
What kind of proof stands behind each number
Hover any value to see its source and how to check it. The symbol tells you what kind of evidence it is.
- 🔗 14 — Online source — click and verify
- 📕 36 — Printed reference — title and table given; no online copy exists
- ✎ 1 — Citation key on file — full details on request
50 of 51 values (98%) can be checked by anyone, today, without asking us.
Biochemistry
Serum and plasma biochemistry, blood gases and acid–base — 20 values, every one cited.
| Marker | Reference interval | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ALP | 16-96 U/L | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| ALT | 20-92 U/L | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| AST | 59-139 U/L | Sex-specific reference intervals of hematologi |
| Albumin | 3.8-4.8 g/dL | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| BUN | 15-21 mg/dL | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| Calcium | 5.3-13 mg/dL | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| Chloride | 96.3-113.7 mEq/L | Charles River — Lewis Rat Clinical Pathology D |
| Cholesterol | 40-130 mg/dL | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| Creatinine | 0.2-0.8 mg/dL | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| GGT | 0-3 U/L | Loeb & Quimby |
| Globulin | 1.8-3 g/dL | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| Glucose | 50-135 mg/dL | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| LDH | 317-890 U/L | Loeb & Quimby |
| Magnesium | 1.9-2.4 mg/dL | Loeb & Quimby |
| Phosphate | 5.8-8.2 mg/dL | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| Potassium | 5.9 mEq/L (single reported value) | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| Sodium | 135-155 mEq/L | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| Total bilirubin | 0.2-0.6 mg/dL | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| Total protein | 5.6-7.6 g/dL | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| Triglycerides | 26-145 mg/dL | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
Haematology
Complete blood count, red cell indices, reticulocytes and platelet fractions — 23 values, every one cited.
| Marker | Reference interval | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Basophils | 0-1% | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| Eosinophils | 0-5% | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| Fibrinogen | 165-262 mg/dL | Miroshnikov et al |
| HCT | 35-45 % | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| HGB | 12-18 g/dL | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| Lymphocytes | 50-70% | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| MCH | 18.6-20.7 pg | Schalm's Veterinary Hematology |
| MCHC | 31.3-34.4 g/dL | Schalm's Veterinary Hematology |
| MCV | 55.1-64.2 fL | Schalm's Veterinary Hematology |
| MPV | 6.70-8.10 fL | Sex-specific reference intervals of hematologi |
| Monocytes | 0-10% | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| Neutrophils | 10-50% | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| Neutrophils heterophils | 0.71-4.71 ×103/µL | Charles River — Lewis Rat Clinical Pathology D |
| P lcr | 4.05-11.20 % | Sex-specific reference intervals of hematologi |
| Pcv | 35-45% | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — Table 9- |
| Pdw | 6.75-8.85 fL | Sex-specific reference intervals of hematologi |
| Plateletcrit | 0.65-1.16 % | Sex-specific reference intervals of hematologi |
| Platelets | < |