Category
ROUTINE CHEMISTRY
Sub Category
ELECTROLYTES
Synonym/Aliases
N/A
Abbreviations
K
Type
INDIVIDUAL TEST
Results
RESULTS READY WITHIN 2 - 3 HOURS
Method
ION SELECTIVE ELECTRODE (ISE)
Temp
SAMPLE KEPT AT ROOM TEMPERATURE 2-3 HOURS, 2-8ºC 3 DAYS, FROZEN 7 DAYS
Setup
ALL WORKING DAYS
Components Parameters
N/A
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY.
Patient preparation
NOT APPLICABLE
Sample type
SERUM
Container/ preservative
SERUM SEPARATOR TUBE (SST/ GEL) OR PLAIN (RED TOP) VACUTAINER
Sample volume
AT LEAST 3 ML
Rejection criteria
LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE; INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE; HEMOLYZED SAMPLES
Other Instructions
CENTRIFUGE SST (SERUM GEL TUBES) WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. CENTRIFUGE RED TOP VACUTAINERS AND ALIQUOT SERUM WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. THE SEPARATION VIAL MUST BE LABELED WITH AT LEAST 2 PATIENT IDENTIFIERS AND THE SAMPLE TYPE.
Reference intervals
AGE AND GENDER APPROPRIATE VALUES PROVIDED WITH REPORT
Clinical Utility
SCREENING, EVALUATION OF ELECTROLYTE BALANCE, CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA, MUSCULAR WEAKNESS, HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY, RENAL FAILURE
Test Limitations / Confounders
PSEUDOHYPERKALEMIA CAN ARISE FROM ERRORS DURING SAMPLE COLLECTION, DIFFICULT COLLECTIONS, SAMPLE MISHANDLING RESULTING IN HEMOLYSIS; IT MAY ALSO ARISE FROM MISREPRESENTATION OF EDTA PLASMA AS SERUM; IT MAY ALSO OCCUR IN PATIENTS WITH MARKED LEUKOCYTOSIS & IN SUCH PATIENTS, TESTING SHOULD BE DONE USING LITHIUM HEPARIN PLASMA.