Is it me or does most high potassium levels come in on Friday afternoon and we have to race to contact the patient ? Often it is a falsely elevated potassium level but because it can be LIFE THREATENING we assume nothing and you must repeat it. (if however you have a chronically elevated potassium this article really does not pertain to you).
What can you do to ensure your level is not falsely high? Actually alot. First mention to the technician that you have had a high potassium in the past and are concerned that the specimen not be hemolyzed. Hemolyzed means clotted. When the cells clot or burst they release potassium and falsely elevate the value. Sometimes the lab notes the specimen was hemolyzed and sometimes they don't. Hemolyzed or not-we still need to repeat it.
Ask that you be allowed to not clench your fist or pump the fist prior to the blood being drawn. You can also ask for the specimen to be taken in a heparinized container(an agent to prevent clotting). When the blood tube sits around all day it can hemolyze so labs later in the day are often sitting around for shorter periods. Ask what their pick up policy on the labs is.(labs done in a doctor's office often sit around longer vs. done directly at a lab center). Unfortunately although a potassium level is not a fasting test, other lab tests you may be having sometimes have to be fasting so you may not be able to go later in the day. Ask if the tube will be spun(centrifuged)there. If so ask the technician to spin it right away.
Because potassium elevation is so common(number one reason in The Kidney Group we call back on your labs)the technician should be familiar with these requests. If not ask to speak to the head technologist.
Last but not least. Make sure the front desk in our office knows how to get a hold of you..your mobile number, your work number and the number of someone else we can reach in case we cannot find you. In the unlikely event you do have an alarming lab result, having the best way to get a hold of you can literally save your life. It is why we update your information every visit. I know it is annoying but experience tells us it is necessary.
What can you do to ensure your level is not falsely high? Actually alot. First mention to the technician that you have had a high potassium in the past and are concerned that the specimen not be hemolyzed. Hemolyzed means clotted. When the cells clot or burst they release potassium and falsely elevate the value. Sometimes the lab notes the specimen was hemolyzed and sometimes they don't. Hemolyzed or not-we still need to repeat it.
Ask that you be allowed to not clench your fist or pump the fist prior to the blood being drawn. You can also ask for the specimen to be taken in a heparinized container(an agent to prevent clotting). When the blood tube sits around all day it can hemolyze so labs later in the day are often sitting around for shorter periods. Ask what their pick up policy on the labs is.(labs done in a doctor's office often sit around longer vs. done directly at a lab center). Unfortunately although a potassium level is not a fasting test, other lab tests you may be having sometimes have to be fasting so you may not be able to go later in the day. Ask if the tube will be spun(centrifuged)there. If so ask the technician to spin it right away.
Because potassium elevation is so common(number one reason in The Kidney Group we call back on your labs)the technician should be familiar with these requests. If not ask to speak to the head technologist.
Last but not least. Make sure the front desk in our office knows how to get a hold of you..your mobile number, your work number and the number of someone else we can reach in case we cannot find you. In the unlikely event you do have an alarming lab result, having the best way to get a hold of you can literally save your life. It is why we update your information every visit. I know it is annoying but experience tells us it is necessary.
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