Medical unit converter
Convert between the units that appear on lab reports, prescriptions and packaging in different countries.
Enter a value to convert.
Why lab reports disagree with each other
Different countries settled on different units for the same measurement. A blood glucose result of 7.0 in the UK and 126 in India describe exactly the same thing — one is mmol/L, the other mg/dL. This trips people up constantly when comparing an old report with a new one, or reading health information written for another country.
Common reference points
- Fasting glucose — 5.6 mmol/L is about 100 mg/dL; 7.0 mmol/L is about 126 mg/dL.
- Total cholesterol — 5.0 mmol/L is about 193 mg/dL.
- Body temperature — 37 °C is 98.6 °F; 38 °C is 100.4 °F, the usual threshold for fever.
One important warning
Conversion factors are specific to what is being measured. Cholesterol and triglycerides do not share a factor — 38.67 versus 88.57 — because the molecules differ in weight. Using the wrong one produces a plausible-looking but wrong number. If you are unsure which applies, ask your pharmacist or the lab rather than guessing.
Reading a result is not interpreting it
Converting a number tells you what it says, not what it means. Reference ranges differ between laboratories, and a result only makes sense alongside your history and symptoms. Take the report to the person who ordered it.