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Potassium, Serum / Plasma
| Item | Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval req'd? | No | ||||
| Available Stat? | Yes | ||||
| Test code | K | ||||
| Test group | Potassium | ||||
| Performed by | Parnassus & Mt. Zion Chemistry | ||||
| In House Availability | Test available 24 hours per day 7 days per week | ||||
| Method | Ion Specific Electrode (ISE) | ||||
| Container type | Gold top or Light Green top | ||||
| Amount to Collect | 1 mL blood Click here for Microdetermination info | ||||
| Sample type | Serum, Heparinized plasma | ||||
| Preferred volume | 0.5 mL serum or plasma | ||||
| Min. Volume | 0.2 mL serum or plasma Click here for Microdetermination info | ||||
| Units | mmol/L | ||||
| Normal range |
1. Normal range for infants 0 to <1 year adopted from Soldin, Steven J., "Pediatric Reference Intervals", 6th edition, AACC Press, 2007, method 4. 2. Adult range used for children >1 year old. 3. Normal range for adults was determined by testing 271 male and female healthy blood donors at UCSF. |
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| Critical value | < 3.0 mmol/L or > 6.0 mmol/L | ||||
| Synonyms | K; K+; Electrolytes | ||||
| Stability | Room temperature 8 hours, refrigerated 2 days, frozen at -20C 1 week | ||||
| Turn around times | STAT 1 hour, Routine 4 hours | ||||
| Additional information | Hemolysis may artifactually increase the result. Levels in serum are normally 0.3 mmol/L higher than plasma levels due to liberation of potassium by platelets during clotting (c. 0.07 mmol/L per 100K platelets). Thus not only hemolysis but thrombocytosis can falsely elevate potassium levels, which can be circumvented by measuring plasma rather than serum potassium. Values < 1.5 or > 12 are automatically reassayed. | ||||
| LOINC code | 2823-3 | ||||
| Last Updated | 2/17/2012 9:55:56 AM | ||||
| Entry Number | 766 | ||||
| Lab Procedure Link | Click here for Procedure |
If you have additional questions regarding this test, please call: 415-353-1667