BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuPotassium testHypokalemia test; Hyperkalemia test; K+This test measures the amount of potassium in the fluid portion (serum) of the blood. Potassium (K+) helps nerves and muscles communicate. It also helps move nutrients into cells and waste products out of cells.Potassium levels in the body are mainly controlled by the hormone aldosterone.AldosteroneThe aldosterone blood test measures the level of the hormone aldosterone in blood. Aldosterone can also be measured using a urine test.Read Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed. Most of the time, blood is drawn from a vein located on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. Drawn from a veinVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test Many medicines can interfere with blood test results.Your health care provider will tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines before you have this test. DO NOT stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider first. How the Test will Feel You may feel slight pain or a sting when the needle is inserted. You may also feel some throbbing at the site after the blood is drawn. Why the Test is Performed This test is a part of a basic or comprehensive metabolic panel.You may have this test to diagnose or monitor kidney disease. The most common cause of a high blood potassium level is kidney disease.Potassium is important to heart function.Your provider may order this test if you have signs of high blood pressure or heart problems. Small changes in potassium levels can have a big effect on the activity of nerves and muscles, especially the heart. Low levels of potassium can lead to an irregular heartbeat or other electrical malfunction of the heart. High levels cause decreased heart muscle activity. Either situation can lead to life-threatening heart problems.It may also be done if your provider suspects metabolic acidosis (for example, caused by uncontrolled diabetes) or alkalosis (for example, caused by excess vomiting).Metabolic acidosisMetabolic acidosis is a condition in which there is too much acid in the body fluids.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article AlkalosisAlkalosis is a condition in which the body fluids have excess base (alkali). This is the opposite of excess acid (acidosis).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sometimes, the potassium test may be done in people who are having an attack of paralysis.ParalysisMuscle function loss is when a muscle does not work or move normally. The medical term for complete loss of muscle function is paralysis.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Normal Results The normal range is 3.7 to 5.2 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L) 3.70 to 5.20 millimoles per liter (millimol/L).Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.The examples above show the common measurements for results for these tests. Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens. What Abnormal Results Mean High levels of potassium (hyperkalemia) may be due to:HyperkalemiaHigh potassium level is a problem in which the amount of potassium in the blood is higher than normal. The medical name of this condition is hyperka...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Addison disease (rare) Addison diseaseAddison disease is a disorder that causes the adrenal glands to not produce enough hormones.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood transfusion Certain medicines, including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), the potassium-sparing diuretics spironolactone, amiloride and triamterene, and beta adrenergic blockers Crushed tissue injury Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis Hyperkalemic periodic paralysisHyperkalemic periodic paralysis (hyperPP) is a disorder that causes occasional episodes of muscle weakness and sometimes a higher than normal level o...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hypoaldosteronism (very rare) Kidney insufficiency or failure Kidney insufficiency or failureAcute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Metabolic or respiratory acidosis Respiratory acidosisRespiratory acidosis is a condition that occurs when your lungs can’t remove all of the carbon dioxide produced by your body. This causes the blood ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Red blood cell destruction Too much potassium in your diet Low levels of potassium (hypokalemia) may be due to:HypokalemiaLow blood potassium level is a condition in which the amount of potassium in the blood is lower than normal. The medical name of this condition is h...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Acute or chronic diarrhea Cushing syndrome (rare) Cushing syndromeCushing syndrome is a disorder that occurs when your body has a high level of the hormone cortisol.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, torsemide, and indapamide Hyperaldosteronism HyperaldosteronismHyperaldosteronism is a disorder in which the adrenal gland releases too much of the hormone aldosterone into the blood. Hyperaldosteronism can be pr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hypokalemic periodic paralysis Hypokalemic periodic paralysisHypokalemic periodic paralysis (hypoPP) is a disorder that causes occasional episodes of muscle weakness and sometimes a lower than normal level of p...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Not enough potassium in the diet Renal artery stenosis Renal tubular acidosis (rare) Renal tubular acidosisProximal renal tubular acidosis is a disease that occurs when the kidneys don't properly remove acids from the blood into the urine. As a result, to...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Vomiting Risks If it is hard to get the needle into the vein to take the blood sample, injury to the red blood cells may cause potassium to be released. This may cause a falsely high result.Open ReferencesReferencesMount DB. Disorders of potassium balance. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 17.Patney V, Whaley-Connell A. Hypokalemia and hyperkalemia. In: Lerma EV, Sparks MA, Topf JM, eds. Nephrology Secrets. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 74.Seifter JL. Potassium disorders. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 109.AllVideoImagesTogBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustrationBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustration Tests for Potassium test Potassium testPotassium urine testAldosterone blood testSkin lesion KOH examRelated Information Ions(Special Topic)Aldosterone blood test(Medical Test)Metabolic acidosis(Condition)Alkalosis(Condition)Heart palpitations(Symptoms)High potassium level(Condition)Acute kidney failure(Condition)Respiratory acidosis(Condition)Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis(Condition)Addison disease(Condition)Eating disorders - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 6/20/2023 Reviewed By: Jacob Berman, MD, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. 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Potassium testHypokalemia test; Hyperkalemia test; K+This test measures the amount of potassium in the fluid portion (serum) of the blood. Potassium (K+) helps nerves and muscles communicate. It also helps move nutrients into cells and waste products out of cells.Potassium levels in the body are mainly controlled by the hormone aldosterone.AldosteroneThe aldosterone blood test measures the level of the hormone aldosterone in blood. Aldosterone can also be measured using a urine test.Read Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed. Most of the time, blood is drawn from a vein located on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. Drawn from a veinVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test Many medicines can interfere with blood test results.Your health care provider will tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines before you have this test. DO NOT stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider first. How the Test will Feel You may feel slight pain or a sting when the needle is inserted. You may also feel some throbbing at the site after the blood is drawn. Why the Test is Performed This test is a part of a basic or comprehensive metabolic panel.You may have this test to diagnose or monitor kidney disease. The most common cause of a high blood potassium level is kidney disease.Potassium is important to heart function.Your provider may order this test if you have signs of high blood pressure or heart problems. Small changes in potassium levels can have a big effect on the activity of nerves and muscles, especially the heart. Low levels of potassium can lead to an irregular heartbeat or other electrical malfunction of the heart. High levels cause decreased heart muscle activity. Either situation can lead to life-threatening heart problems.It may also be done if your provider suspects metabolic acidosis (for example, caused by uncontrolled diabetes) or alkalosis (for example, caused by excess vomiting).Metabolic acidosisMetabolic acidosis is a condition in which there is too much acid in the body fluids.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article AlkalosisAlkalosis is a condition in which the body fluids have excess base (alkali). This is the opposite of excess acid (acidosis).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sometimes, the potassium test may be done in people who are having an attack of paralysis.ParalysisMuscle function loss is when a muscle does not work or move normally. The medical term for complete loss of muscle function is paralysis.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Normal Results The normal range is 3.7 to 5.2 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L) 3.70 to 5.20 millimoles per liter (millimol/L).Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.The examples above show the common measurements for results for these tests. Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens. What Abnormal Results Mean High levels of potassium (hyperkalemia) may be due to:HyperkalemiaHigh potassium level is a problem in which the amount of potassium in the blood is higher than normal. The medical name of this condition is hyperka...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Addison disease (rare) Addison diseaseAddison disease is a disorder that causes the adrenal glands to not produce enough hormones.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood transfusion Certain medicines, including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), the potassium-sparing diuretics spironolactone, amiloride and triamterene, and beta adrenergic blockers Crushed tissue injury Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis Hyperkalemic periodic paralysisHyperkalemic periodic paralysis (hyperPP) is a disorder that causes occasional episodes of muscle weakness and sometimes a higher than normal level o...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hypoaldosteronism (very rare) Kidney insufficiency or failure Kidney insufficiency or failureAcute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Metabolic or respiratory acidosis Respiratory acidosisRespiratory acidosis is a condition that occurs when your lungs can’t remove all of the carbon dioxide produced by your body. This causes the blood ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Red blood cell destruction Too much potassium in your diet Low levels of potassium (hypokalemia) may be due to:HypokalemiaLow blood potassium level is a condition in which the amount of potassium in the blood is lower than normal. The medical name of this condition is h...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Acute or chronic diarrhea Cushing syndrome (rare) Cushing syndromeCushing syndrome is a disorder that occurs when your body has a high level of the hormone cortisol.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, torsemide, and indapamide Hyperaldosteronism HyperaldosteronismHyperaldosteronism is a disorder in which the adrenal gland releases too much of the hormone aldosterone into the blood. Hyperaldosteronism can be pr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hypokalemic periodic paralysis Hypokalemic periodic paralysisHypokalemic periodic paralysis (hypoPP) is a disorder that causes occasional episodes of muscle weakness and sometimes a lower than normal level of p...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Not enough potassium in the diet Renal artery stenosis Renal tubular acidosis (rare) Renal tubular acidosisProximal renal tubular acidosis is a disease that occurs when the kidneys don't properly remove acids from the blood into the urine. As a result, to...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Vomiting Risks If it is hard to get the needle into the vein to take the blood sample, injury to the red blood cells may cause potassium to be released. This may cause a falsely high result.Open ReferencesReferencesMount DB. Disorders of potassium balance. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 17.Patney V, Whaley-Connell A. Hypokalemia and hyperkalemia. In: Lerma EV, Sparks MA, Topf JM, eds. Nephrology Secrets. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 74.Seifter JL. Potassium disorders. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 109.