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22964 Potassium

Potassium
Test Code: K
Synonyms/Keywords
​​​K
Useful For
Potassium measurements are used in the diagnosis and treatment of hypokalemia (metabolic alkalosis, metabolic acidosis or the absence of acid-base disturbances), hyperkalemia (overadministration of potassium, acidosis, or crush injuries), renal failure, Addison's disease or other diseases involving electrolyte imbalance.​
Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type
 Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
No​ ​  Plasma​/Serum Lithium-heparin Plasma Separator (PST)​, Serum Separator Tube (SST) Lithium or Sodium-heparin Green Top (GTT), Red Top Tube (RTT) 1 mL​ 0.3 mL​ 0.6 mL whole blood​
Collection Processing Instructions

Centrifuge and remove serum/plasma from cells within two hours of collection.

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Plasma/Serum​ ​ ​  Ambient​ 5 days​
Refrigerate​ 7 days​
Frozen​ 1 year​
Rejection Criteria

Hemolyzed specimens
Specimens collected with potassium oxalate / sodium fluoride anticoagulants​
Interference
Hemolysis will falsely elevate potassium.
Patients with a high WBC (>30,000) and an association with leukemia, may show a falsely elevated K result (WBC lysis releases intracellular potassium).  When interference is suspected a serum (red) tube should be drawn and run for K.​
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
​Beaver Dam
​Monday through Sunday
​Less than 2 hours
ISE/Beckman AU​​
​Chippewa Falls
 ​​Monday through Friday ​Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU
​Weston
 ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU​​
Eau Claire​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU
Park Falls
 ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU
​Ladysmith 
 ​​Monday through Sunday ​Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU​
Rice Lake
 ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU
Marshfield​ Monday through Sunday​ Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU
​Minocqua ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU
​Neillsville​Monday through Sunday​​​Less than 2 hours​ISE/Beckman AU 
​Stevens Point ​​Monday through Friday ​Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU
Wisconsin Rapids​ ​​Monday through Friday ​Less than 2 hours​ ​ISE/Siemens Dimension
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
All Performing Sites  0-12 months:  3.3-5.9 mmol/L  
> 12 months:   3.4-5.1 mmol/L ​
​​​ ​See Critical Value List for list of current critical values
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
84132 ​ ​ ​1
 ​ ​
Synonyms/Keywords
​​​K
Ordering Applications

Ordering Application Description
​Cerner
 ​Potassium Level

If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type
 Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
No​ ​  Plasma​/Serum Lithium-heparin Plasma Separator (PST)​, Serum Separator Tube (SST) Lithium or Sodium-heparin Green Top (GTT), Red Top Tube (RTT) 1 mL​ 0.3 mL​ 0.6 mL whole blood​
Collection Processing

Centrifuge and remove serum/plasma from cells within two hours of collection.

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Plasma/Serum​ ​ ​  Ambient​ 5 days​
Refrigerate​ 7 days​
Frozen​ 1 year​
Rejection Criteria

Hemolyzed specimens
Specimens collected with potassium oxalate / sodium fluoride anticoagulants​
Interference
Hemolysis will falsely elevate potassium.
Patients with a high WBC (>30,000) and an association with leukemia, may show a falsely elevated K result (WBC lysis releases intracellular potassium).  When interference is suspected a serum (red) tube should be drawn and run for K.​
Useful For
Potassium measurements are used in the diagnosis and treatment of hypokalemia (metabolic alkalosis, metabolic acidosis or the absence of acid-base disturbances), hyperkalemia (overadministration of potassium, acidosis, or crush injuries), renal failure, Addison's disease or other diseases involving electrolyte imbalance.​
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
All Performing Sites  0-12 months:  3.3-5.9 mmol/L  
> 12 months:   3.4-5.1 mmol/L ​
​​​ ​See Critical Value List for list of current critical values
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
​Beaver Dam
​Monday through Sunday
​Less than 2 hours
ISE/Beckman AU​​
​Chippewa Falls
 ​​Monday through Friday ​Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU
​Weston
 ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU​​
Eau Claire​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU
Park Falls
 ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU
​Ladysmith 
 ​​Monday through Sunday ​Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU​
Rice Lake
 ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU
Marshfield​ Monday through Sunday​ Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU
​Minocqua ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU
​Neillsville​Monday through Sunday​​​Less than 2 hours​ISE/Beckman AU 
​Stevens Point ​​Monday through Friday ​Less than 2 hours​ ISE/Beckman AU
Wisconsin Rapids​ ​​Monday through Friday ​Less than 2 hours​ ​ISE/Siemens Dimension
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
84132 ​ ​ ​1
 ​ ​
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.