Lab Unit Conversion - mmol/L โ mg/dL
Convert between SI (mmol/L) and conventional (mg/dL) units. Substance-specific factors: glucose ร18, cholesterol ร38.67.
Why This Health Metric Matters
Why: Different countries and labs report in different units. Accurate conversion prevents clinical errors.
How: mg/dL = mmol/L ร (Molecular Weight / 10). Each substance has a unique conversion factor.
- โGlucose: ร18.02
- โCholesterol: ร38.67
- โCreatinine: ฮผmol/Lรท88.4 for mg/dL
Quick Examples
โ ๏ธFor informational purposes only โ not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before acting on results.
๐ฅ Health Facts
Glucose 5.5 mmol/L = 99 mg/dL. HbA1c 48 mmol/mol = 6.5%.
โ ADA
What is mmol/L and mg/dL?
Laboratory values can be reported in different units depending on the country and medical system. The SI (International System) uses mmol/L (millimoles per liter), while conventional units use mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter).
SI Units (mmol/L)
- Used internationally
- Based on molar concentration
- Standard in Europe, Australia, Canada
- Preferred by scientific community
Conventional Units (mg/dL)
- Used primarily in USA
- Based on mass concentration
- Also used in some other countries
- Historical standard in clinical medicine
How to Convert Between Units
Conversion Formula:
Conversion Factor = Molecular Weight / 10
This works because: 1 mmol/L = 1 mmol per 1000 mL = (MW mg) per 1000 mL = (MW/10) mg per 100 mL = (MW/10) mg/dL
Common Conversion Factors
| Substance | MW | Factor | Quick Conversion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glucose | 180.16 | 18.016 | 5 mmol/L = 90 mg/dL |
| Cholesterol | 386.65 | 38.67 | 5 mmol/L = 193 mg/dL |
| Triglycerides | 885.4 | 88.57 | 1.5 mmol/L = 133 mg/dL |
| Creatinine | 113.12 | 88.4* | 100 ฮผmol/L = 1.13 mg/dL |
| Calcium | 40.08 | 4.008 | 2.5 mmol/L = 10 mg/dL |
*Creatinine often reported in ฮผmol/L rather than mmol/L