Potassium, Arterial (Blood Gas)
Specimen Type
| Test ID |
LAB5304 |
| EPIC Order |
POTASSIUM, WHOLE BLOOD |
| CPT Code(s) |
84132 |
| Group/Individual Test |
Individual |
| Laboratory |
Core Laboratory-Blood Gas |
| Tube Station |
31 |
| Specimen |
Routine: |
1.0 mL in 3cc syringe w/lyophilized heparin in BG Kit or SafePICO syringe or Green Lithium Heparin-NO GEL. See Comments |
| Micro: |
0.5 mL in 1cc syringe w/lyophilized heparin in BG Kit or full capillary tube. See Comments |
| Stability |
|
Room Temp/Refrigerated: up to 4 hours
Frozen: NO
|
| Availability |
Routine: |
24 hrs/day |
| STAT: |
YES |
| Reference Range |
Normal: |
Age 0-28 days: 3.4-5.4 mmol/L
Age 29-365 days: 3.8-4.9 mmol/L
Age 1-17 years: 3.1-4.3 mmol/L
Age ≥18 years: 3.4-4.6 mmol/L
|
| Critical: |
Age 0-28 days: <2.7 or >5.8 mmol/L
Age 29 days-adult: <2.7 or >6.0 mmol/L
Emergency Department: <2.7 or >6.3 mmol/L
|
| Comments |
- Green Sodium Heparin tubes are NOT acceptable and will be rejected.
- Do NOT store specimen on ice.
- Deliver Immediately to Blood Gas lab.
- Syringes with needles attached will NOT be accepted.
- Blood Gas syringes may be obtained from Central Distribution.
- Heparinized capillary samples can be analyzed if at least 200 µL of clot-free blood is present.
- Do not separate or freeze whole blood.
|
Reviewed by J. Carr on January 15, 2026
