A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # |
Potassium
Test CodeCPT Codes
84132
Preferred Specimen
Serum (gold top) tube
Minimum Volume
Other Acceptable Specimens
Instructions
This test is for Potassium measurement on Plasma or Serum. For Potassium measurement on Body Fluids, order MISK. For Potassium measurement on Urine, order URK.
Transport Container
Serum (gold top) tube or Lithium Heparin Plasma (green top) tube
Transport Temperature
Specimen Stability
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Methodology
Potentiometric
Setup Schedule
Daily upon receipt
Report Available
Limitations
Reference Range
3.5 - 5.3 mmol/L
Clinical Significance
Potassium is the major cation of the intracellular fluid. Measurement of serum potassium is used for evaluation of electrolyte imbalance, cardiac arrhythmias, muscular weakness, hepatic encephalopathy, and renal failure and for the monitoring of ketoacidosis in diabetes mellitus and intravenous fluid replacement therapy. More than 90% of hypertensive patients with aldosteronism have a low K+; a low K+ is also common in vomiting, diarrhea, alcoholism, and folic acid deficiency. High K+ values occur in rapid K+ infusion, end stage renal failure, hemolysis, trauma, Addison’s disease, metabolic acidosis, acute starvation, dehydration, and acute medical emergency. Normally, K+ is freely filtered by the glomerulus but tends to be conserved if the serum K+ is low.
This test is for Potassium measurement on Plasma or Serum. For Potassium measurement on Body Fluids, order MISK. For Potassium measurement on Urine, order URK.