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Whole Blood Potassium
Test Code: KWB
Tube type: Lithium Heparin
Special instructions
None
Age related reference range
<4 days: 3.7 - 5.9
4 days - 18 years: 3.4 - 4.7
Adult: 3.5 - 4.5
Units
mmol/L
Turnaround Time
1
day
Department: Biochemistry
Clinical Application
As potassium has a much higher intracellular concentration than extra-cellular concentration, factors which increase the amount of intracellular potassium leaking into extra-cellular fluid may cause a falsely high result. E.g. an old or haemolysed sample. Whole blood potassium is sometimes used in the investigation of high serum potassium measurement.
