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POTASSIUM, urine (087-0606)
Test Mnemonic:

K UR

Specimen Requirements:
Collection:

 

24-hour Specimen - Discard the first early morning specimen. Start timing from this point. Collect all urine voided during the next 24 hours. Note the time that the last specimen is collected during this 24-hour period. This is the finish time that should be recorded on the lab request slip. Entire specimen collected is preferred but an aliquot is acceptable if the total volume collected is measured and written on the request slip. (Min.: 7 mL of urine)

Random Specimen - 10 yellow topped tube or plastic specimen cup with tight-fitting lid. (Min.: 7 mL of urine)

Container:

Yellow topped tube or plastic specimen cup with tight-fitting lid.

Minimum Volume:

7 mL of urine

Storage/Transport:

Refrigerated until delivered to Sample Management.  

Specimen Preparation:

 

All samples should be stored refrigerated during collection and until delivered to the laboratory.

Stability:

Refrigerated for ≤7 days, and frozen for ≤6 months. (Avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles).  

Causes for Rejection:

Specimen collected in container with preservative, 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:

Timed collections must have start time and date, finish time and date, and total volume 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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