Potassium

Test Code

CPT Codes
84132

Preferred Specimen

Serum (gold top) tube

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Lithium Heparin Plasma (green top) tube

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

Refrigeration or Room Temperature

Specimen Stability

Room Temperature - 6 weeks; Refrigerated - 6 weeks

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Hemolysis, Quantity Not Sufficient, EDTA (purple top tube) contamination, IV contamination

Methodology
Potentiometric

Setup Schedule

Daily upon receipt

Report Available

Upon completion of analysis

Limitations

Cisplatan (Plantinol) can alter potassium levels. This drug is known to treat metastatic testicular tumors, metastatic ovarian tumors and advanced bladder cancer. Also, any cationic surfactant (laxative) is known to alter potassium results.

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.

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.