Which of the following can cause a falsely decreased potassium result?

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following can cause a falsely decreased potassium result?

Potassium in blood is mainly inside cells, so anything that changes the integrity of cells or how the sample is handled before analysis can shift the measured value. When cells are damaged (hemolysis), potassium leaks out into the plasma or serum, giving a falsely high result. The question’s scenario points to how temperature affects the sample: hot temperatures can cause processes that move potassium out of its extracellular space or otherwise interfere with the measurement, leading to a reading that is lower than the true value. To avoid this artifact, samples for potassium should be kept and processed under proper temperatures and promptly.

Potassium in blood is mainly inside cells, so anything that changes the integrity of cells or how the sample is handled before analysis can shift the measured value. When cells are damaged (hemolysis), potassium leaks out into the plasma or serum, giving a falsely high result. The question’s scenario points to how temperature affects the sample: hot temperatures can cause processes that move potassium out of its extracellular space or otherwise interfere with the measurement, leading to a reading that is lower than the true value. To avoid this artifact, samples for potassium should be kept and processed under proper temperatures and promptly.

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