Laboratory Medicine
Test Directory / Potassium
Potassium
Brown clotted serum, gel barrier or lithium heparin
| Test | Potassium |
|---|---|
| Common Abbreviations | K+, POT |
| Profile | Urea and Electrolytes |
| Tube type | Brown clotted serum, gel barrier or lithium heparin |
| Clinical Indication | Measurement is used to identify hypo or hyperkalaemia. It may be used in the diagnosis and monitoring of kidney disease. It may also be requested in patients with diarrhoea and vomiting, excessive sweating, hypertension, metabolic acidosis or with symptoms that may be attributable to abnormal serum potassium levels (e.g. neuromuscular or cardiac abnormalities). Monitoring of potassium levels may also be indicated in patients taking certain medications (e.g. diuretics). |
| Specimen Type | Blood |
| Sample type | Serum or plasma |
| Minimum Volume | 0.5mL If requesting more than 10 tests please send an additional brown clotted serum sample. |
| Special Precautions | No special requirements |
| Stability | 2 weeks at 2 - 25°C |
| Turnaround Time | Urgent: 2 hours Inpatient: 4 hours Outpatient/ GP: 24 hours |
| Laboratory | York and Scarborough |
| Reference Interval | 3.5-5.3 mmol/L (Recommended by the Pathology Harmonisation Reference Group) |
| Limitations | Old and haemolysed samples are unsuitable for analysis due to the release of intracellular potassium from red blood cells. |
| Notes |
