| Analyzer |
|
| Abbrev |
K |
| Analyte |
Potassium |
| Department |
Chemistry-General |
| Specimen Type |
Serum |
| Alternate Specimen Type |
N/A |
| Specimen Stability Requirements |
Transport refrigerated within 7 days after collection |
| Preferred Specimen |
1mL Serum |
| Minimum Volume |
0.5mL |
| Collection Instructions |
Avoid hemolysis since it can lead to falsely elevated values. Avoid grossly lipemic samples as it may show an inappropriately decreased result. |
| Specimen Instructions |
Allow serum samples to clot completely before centrifugation. Separate serum from blood cells as soon as possible. Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged and aliquoted to a plastic transport tube within 2 hours of collection. Avoid hemolysis. Gel tubes should be spun at room temperature at a speed of 1000 to 1300 RCF for 10 minutes in a swinging bucket centrifuge and 15 minutes in a fixed-angle centrifuge. Non-gel serum tubes can be centrifuged at ≤ 1300 RCF for 10 minutes. After centrifugation refrigerates the samples at 2 to 8°C. |
| Reasons for Rejection |
Improper labeling; quantity not sufficient for analysis; improper specimen type; expired stability; gross lipemia; hemolysis. |
| CPT Code |
84132 |
