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Test Code POT Potassium, Plasma/Serum/Urine

Performing Laboratory

North Ottawa Community Hospital

Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

 

Preferred:

Specimen Type: Plasma

Container/Tube: Mint-green top (lithium heparin gel)

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instruction: 

1. Label specimen as plasma.

2. Avoid hemolysis and lipemia.

 

Acceptable:

Specimen Type: Serum

Container/Tube: Serum gel or red top

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instruction: 

1. Label specimen as serum.

2. Avoid hemolysis and lipemia.

 

Specimen Rejection: Severe hemolysis

 

Specimen Type: Urine

Container/Tube: Plain, screw-top container

Specimen Volume: Entire collection

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect a random urine specimen.

2. No preservative.

Reference Values

3.5-5.1 mmol/L

Critical values (automatic call-back): <2.8 mmol/L or >6.5 mmol/L

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday

Methodology

Potentiometric

Specimen Transport Temperature

Ambient

Test Classification and CPT Coding

84132

Specimen Storage and Stability

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum/Plasma/Urine Room Temp < 6 weeks
  Refrigerated (primary) <6 weeks
  Frozen <1 year