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Electrolytes
MessageChemistry
Test Code
LYTES
Alias/See Also
Lytes
Includes
Sodium, Potassium, Chloride
Preferred Specimen
Plasma (Lithium Heparin)
WyMCC - SST
WyMCC - SST
Minimum Volume
4.0 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
SST
Instructions
None
Specimen Stability
Temperature Stability
2 - 8 °C 2 weeks
15-25°C 2 weeks
≤ - 20 °C Stable
2 - 8 °C 2 weeks
15-25°C 2 weeks
≤ - 20 °C Stable
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Drawn in outdated/expired tube
Hemolyzed, icteric, or lipemic
Contaminated
Hemolyzed, icteric, or lipemic
Contaminated
Clinical Significance
Sodium is the major extracellular cation and functions to maintain fluid distribution and osmotic pressure. Some causes of decreased
levels of sodium include prolonged vomiting or diarrhea, diminished reabsorption in the kidney and excessive fluid retention.
Common causes of increased sodium include excessive fluid loss, high salt intake and increased kidney reabsorption.
Potassium is the major intracellular cation and is critical to neural and muscle cell activity. Some causes of decreased potassium
levels include reduced intake of dietary potassium or excessive loss of potassium from the body due to diarrhea, prolonged vomiting
or increased renal excretion. Increased potassium levels may be caused by dehydration or shock, severe burns, diabetic ketoacidosis,
and retention of potassium by the kidney.
Chloride is the major extracellular anion and serves to regulate the balance of extracellular fluid distribution. Similarly to the other
ions, common causes of decreased chloride include reduced dietary intake, prolonged vomiting and reduced renal reabsorption as
well as some forms of acidosis and alkalosis. Increased chloride values are found in dehydration, kidney failure, some forms of
acidosis, high dietary or parenteral chloride intake, and salicylate poisoning.
levels of sodium include prolonged vomiting or diarrhea, diminished reabsorption in the kidney and excessive fluid retention.
Common causes of increased sodium include excessive fluid loss, high salt intake and increased kidney reabsorption.
Potassium is the major intracellular cation and is critical to neural and muscle cell activity. Some causes of decreased potassium
levels include reduced intake of dietary potassium or excessive loss of potassium from the body due to diarrhea, prolonged vomiting
or increased renal excretion. Increased potassium levels may be caused by dehydration or shock, severe burns, diabetic ketoacidosis,
and retention of potassium by the kidney.
Chloride is the major extracellular anion and serves to regulate the balance of extracellular fluid distribution. Similarly to the other
ions, common causes of decreased chloride include reduced dietary intake, prolonged vomiting and reduced renal reabsorption as
well as some forms of acidosis and alkalosis. Increased chloride values are found in dehydration, kidney failure, some forms of
acidosis, high dietary or parenteral chloride intake, and salicylate poisoning.
