Test Name: Potassium (K), Blood
Specimen Type: Serum/Plasma
Specimen Required: 3-5 Cc Yellow Top Gel Vial, Green top
Lithium Heparin Vial
Day Performed: Daily
Reporting Time: 8 Hours STAT Reporting Time: 120 MINUTES
Methodology: Beckman Coulter AU480
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
High levels of potassium (hyperkalemia) may be due to:
- Addison disease (rare)
- Blood transfusion
- Certain medicines, including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), the potassium-sparing diuretics spironolactone, amiloride and triamterene, and beta adrenergic blockers
- Crushed tissue injury
- Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis
- Hypoaldosteronism (very rare)
- Kidney insufficiency or failure
- Metabolic or respiratory acidosis
- Red blood cell destruction
- Too much potassium in the diet
Low levels of potassium (hypokalemia) may be due to:
- Acute or chronic diarrhea
- Cushing syndrome (rare)
- Diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, torsemide, and indapamide
- Hyperaldosteronism
- Hypokalemic periodic paralysis
- Not enough potassium in the diet
- Renal artery stenosis
- Renal tubular acidosis (rare)
- Vomiting
References:
- Mount DB. Disorders of potassium balance. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector’s The Kidney.11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020: chap 17.
- Patney V, Whaley-Connell A. Hypokalemia and hyperkalemia. In: Lerma EV, Sparks MA, Topf JM, eds. Nephrology Secrets.4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019: chap 74.