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Potassium, Plasma
Test Code11014X
CPT Codes
84132
Preferred Specimen
1 mL plasma collected in a lithium heparin (green-top) tube
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Sodium heparin (green-top) tube
Instructions
Separate plasma from cells promptly
Transport Temperature
Room temperature
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 7 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 28 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 28 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Hemolysis • Serum • Any anticoagulants other than lithium or sodium heparin
Methodology
Ion Selective Electrode (ISE)
Setup Schedule
A.M. Sets up 5 days a week.
Report Available
Reports in 1 day.
Clinical Significance
False elevations of potassium may be due to hemolysis or rupture of platelets during coagulation process. The use of plasma potassium levels should be limited to those patients with spuriously elevated or depressed potassium levels due to blood samples left at room temperature, in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia with very high WBC counts (false decline), and those with thrombocytosis (increased platelets) with counts in excess of one million (false elevation).