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POTASSIUM, body fluid (087-0604)
Test Mnemonic:

K BF

Specimen Requirements:
Collection:

 

Preferred: 10 mL plastic, conical, capped tube. (Min.: 1 mL)

Container:

Plastic, conical, capped tube

Minimum Volume:

1 mL

Storage/Transport:

Delivered to Sample Management within 4 hours of collection.   

Specimen Preparation:

 

Body fluids from all sources.   Centrifuge the specimen prior to analysis to remove possible cellular and bacterial contaminants.

Stability:

 

Room temperature for ≤6 weeks, refrigerated   for ≤6 weeks, and frozen   ≤1 year. (Avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles).       

Causes for Rejection:

Specimen too viscous for sampling, incomplete and/or incorrect sample identification, improper storage/transport.                                                            

Reference Range:

By report (reports may vary based on instrumentation, patient age and sex)

Turnaround Time:

Routine: 8 hours; ASAP: 4 hours; STAT: 1 hour

Methodology:

Potentiometric

Performed:

Clinical Chemistry

CPT 4 Code:

84133

Note:

Indicate source of fluid on request form.

When ordering tests for which Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement will be sought, physicians should only order tests that are medically necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of the patient. Components of the organ or disease panels may be ordered individually. The diagnostic information must substantiate all tests ordered and must be in the form of an ICD-10 code or its verbal equivalent.
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