Potassium




Test Mnemonic

K1

CPT Codes

  • 84132 - QTY (1)

LOINC ®

2823-3

Aliases

  • K

Performing Laboratory

n/a


Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
1 mLPlasmaLithium heparin PST (Lt. Green) Centrifuge and refrigerate.Submit in original tube or aliquot specimen into CCL aliquot tube

Alternate Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
1 mLSerumSST (Gold) Centrifuge and refrigerate. 

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
0.4 mL     

Stability

Environmental Condition Description
Ambient14 days
Refrigerated14 days
FrozenStable

Days Performed

Sun - Sat

Turnaround Time

8 hours

Methodology

Name Description
Ion Selective Electrode (ISE) 

Reference Range

Potassium
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
~      Critical<2.5 or >6.0mmol/L
~      Critical<3.0 or >6.0mmol/L
   Years99 YearsNormal3.7 - 5.1mmol/L
   Years99 YearsCritical< 2.5 or > 6.0mmol/L

Special Info

Hemolysis will falsely increase values. Grossly hemolyzed specimens will be rejected.

Clinical Info

For patient population 0-17 years of age: Reference ranges for this patient’s age group have not been established. These reference ranges reflect verified or established ranges for the adult population. Interpret these ranges with caution using the clinical context and additional reference resources.