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| 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 CodeK
CPT Codes
84132
Preferred Specimen
GREEN Lithium Heparin Plasma
Minimum Volume
0.25 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
SST Serum Separator, Red No Gel
Instructions
Separate from cells within 2 hours of collection
Transport Container
GREEN Lithium Heparin
Transport Temperature
Room Temperature
Specimen Stability
Room Temp: 7 Days; Refrigerated: 7 Days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Not separated from cells within 2 hours; Gross hemolysis
Methodology
Potentiometric Vitros 7600/3400
Reference Range
3.5-5.1 mmol/L; Critical : <2.8 or >6.0 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+ 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. Urinary potassium may be elevated with dietary increase, hyperaldosteronism, renal tubular acidosis, and at the onset of alkalosis
Performed By
RFGH Laboratory
Performing Laboratory
RFGH Laboratory
