CommonLaboratoryTests.pptVIP

Potassium Potassium is the major intracellular cation with levels of ~ 4 mmol/L found in serum Elevated serum potassium level = Hyperkalemia Decreased serum potassium level = Hypokalemia *note – if a specimen is hemolyzed (such as by traumatic venipuncture or drawing blood with a needle that is too small) potassium levels may be “falsely” elevated. Why? There are high concentrations of K in red blood cells. If RBCs are lysed during phlebotomy, K is released into the serum resulting in elevated measured levels. Chloride Chloride is the major extracellular anion with serum concentration of ~