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HelpTest Code K Potassium (K+) LAB114
Performing Laboratory
UnityPoint The Finley Hospital
Test Method
Ion Specific Electrode; Roche cobas Pro
Performance
Testing is performed Monday through Sunday.
Routine orders: Typically completed within 4 hours after the specimen arrives at the testing site.
STAT: Typically completed within 30 minutes after the specimen arrives at the testing site.
Specimen Requirement
Lithium heparin plasma (Green) or serum (Red/Gold): 500 uL.
It is recommended that the serum or plasma be separated from contact with cells within 2 hours from time of collection.
Samples for potassium are stable for 14 days at 15-25°C and 2-8°C, and indefinitely when stored frozen at -20°C.
Useful For
Potassium is the major intracellular cation and is critical to neural and muscle cell activity. Some causes of decreased potassium levels include reduced intake of dietary potassium or excessive loss of potassium from the body due to diarrhea, prolonged vomiting or increased renal excretion. Increased potassium levels may be caused by dehydration or shock, severe burns, diabetic ketoacidosis, and retention of potassium by the kidney.
Reference Values
3.5-5.1 mmol/L
Critical Values:
less than (<) 3.0 or greater than (>) 6.0 mmol/L
CPT Code Information
84132 Chemistry: Potassium, serum, plasma or whole
blood
LOINC Code Information
2823-3 Potassium [Moles/Volume] In Serum Or Plasma