Which factor can cause falsely elevated potassium results?

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Multiple Choice

Which factor can cause falsely elevated potassium results?

Explanation:
Potassium is mostly inside red blood cells, so when cells break apart, their potassium spills into the serum or plasma. This release raises the measured potassium level, giving a falsely high result. Hemolysis can occur during collection, handling, or processing, and is a common reason labs flag or redraw a test. The other options don’t reliably cause a true rise in potassium: temperature effects aren’t a consistent source of false hyperkalemia, and open caps aren’t a standard mechanism for elevating potassium as compared to the impact of red cell rupture. To avoid this, gentle collection and proper handling are essential, and samples showing signs of hemolysis are typically redrawn.

Potassium is mostly inside red blood cells, so when cells break apart, their potassium spills into the serum or plasma. This release raises the measured potassium level, giving a falsely high result. Hemolysis can occur during collection, handling, or processing, and is a common reason labs flag or redraw a test. The other options don’t reliably cause a true rise in potassium: temperature effects aren’t a consistent source of false hyperkalemia, and open caps aren’t a standard mechanism for elevating potassium as compared to the impact of red cell rupture. To avoid this, gentle collection and proper handling are essential, and samples showing signs of hemolysis are typically redrawn.

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