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Potassium, whole blood (MtZ Only)
| Item |
Value |
| Approval req'd? |
Yes, contact Blood Bank at x3-1313. Requires Blood Bank lab medicine resident's approval when test is ordered on transfused blood unit. |
| Available Stat? |
Yes |
| Test code |
KSB |
| Test group |
Potassium |
| Performed by |
Mt. Zion Chemistry |
| In House Availability |
Test available 24 hours per day 7 days per week |
| Method |
| NCPL |
Radiometer ABL 800 |
|
MtZ |
Gem Premier 3500 |
|
| Collection Instructions |
Fill syringe completely, remove needle, expel all bubbles and cap sample. Deliver immediately to lab for testing. |
| Container type |
Plastic syringe containing 100U of dry heparin |
| Amount to Collect |
3 mL blood |
| Sample type |
Heparinized whole blood (Blood gas syringe only) |
| Preferred volume |
3 mL blood |
| Min. Volume |
1 mL blood |
| UCSF Rejection Criteria |
Samples submitted > 30 min. after collection. Samples with needle attached, containing large bubbles, unlabeled, mislabeled, clotted or of insufficient volume for testing. |
| Units |
mmol/L |
| Normal range |
| ≤ 1 year |
3.0-5.4 mmol/L |
|
> 1 year |
3.4-4.5 mmol/L |
|
| Critical value |
< 3.0 mmol/L or > 6.0 mmol/L |
| Synonyms |
K; K+; Electrolytes |
| Turn around times |
Stat 15 min, Routine 30 min |
| 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 |
6298-4 |
| Last Updated |
3/14/2013 3:39:21 PM |
| Entry Number |
767 |
If you have additional questions regarding this test, please call: 415-353-1667
