| REVIEW ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2013 | Volume
: 5
| Issue : 4 | Page : 255-259 |
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Errors in potassium measurement: A laboratory perspective for the clinician
Jaya R Asirvatham1, Viju Moses2, Loring Bjornson1
1 Department of Pathology, Hofstra North Shore-Long Island Jewish School of Medicine, New York, USA
2 Saint Peter's University Hospital/Drexel University School of Medicine, New Brunswick, USA
Correspondence Address:
Jaya R Asirvatham
6 Ohio Drive, Ste 202, Lake Success 11040, New York
USA
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1947-2714.110426
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Errors in potassium measurement can cause pseudohyperkalemia, where serum potassium is falsely elevated. Usually, these are recognized either by the laboratory or the clinician. However, the same factors that cause pseudohyperkalemia can mask hypokalemia by pushing measured values into the reference interval. These cases require a high-index of suspicion by the clinician as they cannot be easily identified in the laboratory. This article discusses the causes and mechanisms of spuriously elevated potassium, and current recommendations to minimize those factors. "Reverse" pseudohyperkalemia and the role of correction factors are also discussed. Relevant articles were identified by a literature search performed on PubMed using the terms "pseudohyperkalemia," "reverse pseudohyperkalemia," "factitious hyperkalemia," "spurious hyperkalemia," and "masked hypokalemia." |
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