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Test Code BGK Potassium, Whole Blood

Synonym

  • BGK

Specimen Required

Clinical Lab UH:

Preferred Container/Tube: Dry Lithium Heparin Syringe
Acceptable Container/Tube: Mint Green Top, Green (Sodium Heparin) Top Tube
Specimen Volume: Full Syringe, 3 mL Green/Mint Green Tube
Specimen Minimum Volume: Full Syringe, 1 mL Green/Mint Green Tube

 

Clinical Lab James West Campus:

Preferred Container/Tube: Mint Green Top
Acceptable Container/Tube: Mint Green Top, Dry Lithium Heparin Syringe
Specimen Volume: Full Mint Top, Full Syringe
Specimen Minimum Volume: 3 mL Mint Top, 1 mL Syringe

 

Respiratory Therapy:

Preferred Container/Tube: Dry Lithium Heparin Syringe
Acceptable Container/Tube: Dry Lithium Heparin Syringe
Specimen Volume: Full Syringe
Specimen Minimum Volume: Full Syringe

Specimen Stability Information

Clinical Lab UH:
Ambient: 30 minutes
 

Clinical Lab James West Campus and Respiratory Therapy:
Ambient: 2.5 hours

Rejected Due To

Clinical Lab UH:

  • Unacceptable container type
  • Quantity not sufficient
  • Clotted specimens
  • Received >30 minutes from collection time
     

Clinical Lab James West Campus and Respiratory Therapy:

  • Unacceptable container type
  • Quantity not sufficient
  • Clotted specimens
  • Received >2.5 hours from collection time

Reference Values

0-7 days: 3.2-5.5 mmol/L
8-30 days: 3.4-6.0 mmol/L
31-182 days: 3.5-5.6 mmol/L
183-365 days: 3.5-6.1 mmol/L
1-17 years: 3.3-4.6 mmol/L
18+ years: 3.5-5.0 mmol/L

Cautions

Potassium results are elevated with in vitro hemolysis. Hemolysis is undetected in whole blood potassium measurements. Interpret results with caution.

Method Description

Potentiometry

Performing Lab

Clinical Lab UH
Clinical Lab West Campus
Respiratory Therapy East
Respiratory Therapy UH

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

Reporting Name

Potassium, Whole Blood

CPT Code Information

84132

LOINC Code Information

6298-4