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

UNC Hospitals
McLendon Clinical Laboratories
101 Manning Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514