Potassium, Whole Blood
| Sunquest Code: | KW | ||
| Epic Code: | LAB3579 | Epic Name: | Potassium Whole Blood |
| Methodology: | Direct ion selective electrode | ||
| Turnaround Time: | Performed and reported 24 hours/day. | ||
| Special Instructions: | UMMC Only: Arterial or venous blood collected in a dry lithium heparin syringe for blood gas or ionized calcium analysis may be used for sodium, potassium or glucose analysis simultaneously. | ||
Collection Instructions
| Specimen: | Arterial Blood |
| Optimal Volume: | 1 mL |
| Minimum\Peds Volume: | 0.2 mL (tuberculin syringe) |
| Container: | Dry heparin syringe (Capillary (lithium heparin) gas tube, Green (lithium heparin, gel), Green (lithium heparin) on ICE, Green (sodium heparin, no gel)) |
| Collection Instructions: | Do not allow patient to clench/unclench hand. Must be delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours of collection. |
Processing and Shipping
| Specimen Processing: | Whole blood. Do not process. Do not store. |
| Stability: | Specimens must be delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours of collection. |
| Test Performed at or Referral Lab | Chemistry (UMMC-East Bank, UMMC/UMMCH-West Bank, UMMC NICU) |
Interpretive
| Critical Range: | Less than 2.7 mmol/L and greater than 6.0 mmol/L |
| Reference Range: | 0-11 mo: 3.2-6.0 mmol/L; 1 y and older: 3.4-5.3 mmol/L. Serum values may be 0.1-0.2 mmol/L greater than plasma or whole blood values. |
| Use: | Evaluate potassium metabolism. |
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