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.
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.
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 regular part of a basic or comprehensive metabolic panel.
You may have this test to diagnose or monitor kidney disease. The most common cause of high 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.
Sometimes, the potassium test may be done in people who are having an attack of paralysis.
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:
- Addison disease (rare)
- Blood transfusion
- Certain medicines
- Crushed tissue injury
- Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis
- Hypoaldosteronism (very rare)
- Kidney failure
- Metabolic or respiratory acidosis
- Red blood cell destruction
- Too much potassium in your diet
Low levels of potassium (hypokalemia) may be due to:
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.
Hypokalemia test; K+
Mount DB. Disorders of potassium balance. In: Skorecki K, Chertow GM, Marsden PA, Taal MW, Yu ASL, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 18.
Seifter JR. Potassium disorders. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 117.
Review Date 5/21/2017
Updated by: Laura J. Martin, MD, MPH, ABIM Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Atlanta, GA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.