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    Medical Unit Converter

    🇳🇿 New Zealand version

    Results from a New Zealand laboratory give glucose and cholesterol as mmol/L and HbA1c as mmol/mol. This converter opens with those, and shows the mg/dL and percentage figures alongside. Health NZ changed its HbA1c thresholds from 1 July 2026, so check any older result against the range on your own report. Ask your GP about what it means.

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    Medical Unit Converter

    Convert 32 lab values between conventional (mg/dL) and SI (mmol/L) units, with typical adult reference intervals for context

    Reference ranges are not universal

    The intervals here are typical adult values. Real ranges vary by laboratory, assay, age, sex, pregnancy and ethnicity — the range printed on your own report is the one that applies to your result. A value outside a range is not by itself a diagnosis, and a value inside one does not rule anything out.

    Enter your results

    Labs here report glucose and cholesterol in mmol/L and HbA1c in mmol/mol, so that unit comes first. Health NZ gives HbA1c in mmol/mol: diabetes from 48, prediabetes 42 to 47. Thresholds changed from 1 July 2026. Sources: Health NZ: Understanding your HbA1c results; Ministry of Health: Biomedical results 2014/15.

    Glucose

    Metabolic

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    70–99

    Fasting range. Post-meal targets differ.

    Lactate

    Metabolic

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    4.5–19.8

    Beta-hydroxybutyrate

    Metabolic

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    0–6

    Below about 0.6 mmol/L (6 mg/dL) is normal without fasting or a ketogenic diet.

    Total cholesterol

    Lipids

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    0–200

    LDL cholesterol

    Lipids

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    0–100

    Targets depend heavily on cardiovascular risk.

    HDL cholesterol

    Lipids

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    ≥ 40

    Higher is generally better, so the low end is the concern.

    Triglycerides

    Lipids

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    0–150

    Creatinine

    Kidney

    µmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    0.6–1.3

    Urea nitrogen (BUN)

    Kidney

    mmol/L (urea) ↔ mg/dL
    7–20

    Uric acid

    Kidney

    µmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    3.4–7

    Total bilirubin

    Liver

    µmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    0.2–1.2

    Albumin

    Liver

    g/L ↔ g/dL
    3.5–5

    Total protein

    Liver

    g/L ↔ g/dL
    6–8.3

    Ammonia

    Liver

    µmol/L ↔ µg/dL
    15–45

    Calcium

    Electrolytes

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    8.5–10.2

    Magnesium

    Electrolytes

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    1.7–2.2

    Phosphate

    Electrolytes

    mmol/L ↔ mg/dL
    2.5–4.5

    Sodium

    Electrolytes

    mmol/L ↔ mEq/L
    135–145

    mEq/L and mmol/L are identical for monovalent ions.

    Potassium

    Electrolytes

    mmol/L ↔ mEq/L
    3.5–5

    Chloride

    Electrolytes

    mmol/L ↔ mEq/L
    98–107

    Haemoglobin

    Haematology

    g/L ↔ g/dL
    12–17

    Reference ranges differ by sex.

    Serum iron

    Haematology

    µmol/L ↔ µg/dL
    60–170

    Ferritin

    Haematology

    µg/L ↔ ng/mL
    30–300

    ng/mL and µg/L are numerically identical.

    Vitamin B12

    Haematology

    pmol/L ↔ pg/mL
    200–900

    Folate

    Haematology

    nmol/L ↔ ng/mL
    3–20

    Vitamin D (25-OH)

    Hormones & vitamins

    nmol/L ↔ ng/mL
    30–100

    Cortisol

    Hormones & vitamins

    nmol/L ↔ µg/dL
    5–23

    Morning value; cortisol follows a strong daily rhythm.

    Testosterone

    Hormones & vitamins

    nmol/L ↔ ng/dL
    300–1000

    Adult male range.

    TSH

    Hormones & vitamins

    mIU/L ↔ µIU/mL
    0.4–4

    µIU/mL and mIU/L are identical.

    Free T4

    Hormones & vitamins

    pmol/L ↔ ng/dL
    0.8–1.8

    PSA

    Hormones & vitamins

    µg/L ↔ ng/mL
    0–4

    C-reactive protein

    Hormones & vitamins

    mg/L ↔ mg/dL
    0–0.5

    Why two sets of units exist

    Mass versus moles

    Conventional units express concentration as mass per volume (mg/dL). SI units express it as moles per volume (mmol/L), which is chemically more meaningful because reactions happen between numbers of molecules, not grams.

    The conversion factor is therefore specific to each substance — it is 10 divided by the molecular weight. This is why glucose and cholesterol, both reported in mg/dL, use completely different factors.

    Where conversion does not apply

    Some pairs are identical rather than converted: mEq/L equals mmol/L for monovalent ions like sodium and potassium, and ng/mL equals µg/L by definition. Others, like HbA1c, are related by fitted equations rather than chemistry.

    Enzyme activities (ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase) are reported in units per litre and are not converted at all, which is why they are not listed here.

    Not a diagnosis
    A unit converter with reference context, not a clinical decision tool. Interpreting lab results requires the full picture — your history, your symptoms, and the range your own laboratory reports. Discuss results with the clinician who ordered them.

    New Zealand rules and figures

    • Health NZ gives HbA1c in mmol/mol: diabetes from 48 and prediabetes from 42 to 47.
    • Those HbA1c thresholds changed from 1 July 2026, so a result reported earlier may sit in a different band from one reported now.
    • New Zealand laboratories report glucose and cholesterol in mmol/L, so entry starts in SI units and mg/dL is the second figure.
    • The page starts body metrics in kilograms and centimetres, with temperature in °C.

    Sources: Health NZ: Understanding your HbA1c results (checked 2026-11-08)

    How the medical unit converter works

    Each test has one factor linking mmol/L style units and mg/dL style units. The New Zealand page starts with you typing SI values and, on the HbA1c tab, mmol/mol, then derives everything else.

    HbA1c 42 mmol/mol ÷ 10.929 + 2.15 = 6.0%; average glucose = 28.7 × 5.99 − 46.7 = 125 mg/dL, then × 0.05551 = 7.0 mmol/L

    • The Lab values tab begins in SI units, so mmol/L is typed and mg/dL appears beside it.
    • The HbA1c tab begins in mmol/mol, the way Health NZ reports it, and the percentage is derived with the IFCC equation.
    • Health NZ puts diabetes from 48 mmol/mol and prediabetes at 42 to 47, with thresholds that changed on 1 July 2026, so older figures may not match.
    • A band label on the tab is based on the percentage and is not a diagnosis. Your GP uses your report and history.
    • Height starts in centimetres and weight in kilograms, with temperature in °C.

    How to use the medical unit converter

    1. Look up the test. Search by name, unit or panel, or pick a panel from the list.
    2. Check which unit you are typing. The page begins with SI entry, and one press of the button changes to mg/dL.
    3. Type your result. Enter the number and read the other unit and the badge on the row.
    4. Read an HbA1c. The HbA1c tab begins in mmol/mol. Enter your result to see the percentage and an average glucose, or switch the small list to type a percentage.
    5. Open the other tabs. Body metrics and Vitals start in centimetres, kilograms and degrees Celsius.
    6. Copy, export or start again. Use Copy or Export CSV for rows with a value, or Reset to empty the page.

    Example: HbA1c and glucose in New Zealand units

    Typing 42 mmol/mol on the HbA1c tab gives 6.0% and an estimated average glucose of 125 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L), and the tab labels the value Prediabetes range, which matches how Health NZ groups 42 to 47. On the Lab values tab, a glucose of 6.1 mmol/L becomes 110 mg/dL and the badge reads Above range. Both are bandings, not diagnoses.

    When to use the medical unit converter

    • Reading a result from overseas. Switch to mg/dL entry for a report from the US and read it in mmol/L.
    • Comparing percentages and mmol/mol. See an older percentage in the unit New Zealand laboratories now use.
    • Looking at lipids. Convert total, LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides between units.
    • Preparing for a GP visit. Copy converted rows so you can discuss them at the appointment.

    What the medical unit converter does not do

    • The ranges here are one adult interval for every country. The range on your own laboratory report is the one to use.
    • HbA1c thresholds changed on 1 July 2026, and the band label on this page uses the percentage, so check the current Health NZ page for your result.
    • Conversions only help you read a number. Deciding what it means or changing treatment is for your GP.
    • Percentage and mmol/mol are linked by the IFCC fit, which gives close estimates rather than exact matches.

    When something else is a better fit

    • When you want your own interpretation of a result, use your clinician, who reads results against the lab's printed range and your history.
    • When you want a general unit converter for length, weight or volume, use the Unit Converter.
    • When you want body metrics with more measurements, use the BMI Calculator.

    Questions about the medical unit converter

    What HbA1c unit does New Zealand use?

    Health NZ reports HbA1c in mmol/mol. The page begins there and shows the percentage as the second figure.

    What does 42 mmol/mol mean?

    Health NZ groups 42 to 47 as prediabetes. The converter shows 42 as 6.0% with an average glucose of 125 mg/dL, and your GP can explain what that means for you.

    Did the thresholds change recently?

    Yes, Health NZ says they changed from 1 July 2026. Check the current Health NZ page when comparing an older result.

    How do I convert mmol/L glucose to mg/dL?

    Divide by 0.05551. For a result of 6.1 mmol/L the tool shows 110 mg/dL.

    Can I use this to decide on treatment?

    No. The tool is for reading units. Treatment questions go to your GP or diabetes team.