What it means to have high potassium in blood sample? and as a laboratory scientist what are the steps you do when you find such an alarming results?

Potassium is an electrolyte that is vital to cell metabolism and muscle function. Potassium, along with other electrolytes such as sodium, chloride, and bicarbonate (total CO2), helps regulate the amount of fluid in the body, stimulates muscle contraction, and maintains a stable acid-base balance. Potassium is present in all body fluids, but most potassium is found within your cells. Only about2% is present in fluids outside the cells and in the liquid part of the blood (called serum or plasma). Because the blood concentration of potassium is so small, minor changes can have significant consequences. If potassium levels are too low or too high, there can be serious health consequences; a person may be at risk for developing shock, respiratory failure, or heart rhythm disturbances. An abnormal potassium level can alter the function of neuromuscular tissue; for example, the heart muscle may lose its ability to contract.

Potassium levels often change with sodium levels. When sodium levels go up, potassium levels go down, and when sodium levels go down, potassium levels go up. Potassium levels are also affected by a hormone called aldosterone, which is made by the adrenal glands.

Potassium levels can be affected by how the kidneys are working, the blood pH, the amount of potassium you eat, the hormone levels in your body, severe vomiting, and taking certain medicines, such as diuretics and potassium supplements. Certain cancer treatments that destroy cancer cells can also make potassium levels high.

Why It Is Done

A blood test is done to:

• Check levels in people being treated with medicines such as diuretics and for people having kidney dialysis.
• Check to see whether treatment for too low or too high potassium levels is working.
• Check people with high blood pressure who may have a problem with their kidneys or adrenal glands.
• Check the effects of extra nutrition (total parenteral nutrition [TPN]) on potassium levels.
• Check to see whether certain cancer treatments are causing too many cells to be destroyed (cell lysis). Cell lysis syndrome causes very high levels of some electrolytes, including potassium.

Blood potassium levels also vary with age.

Potassium (K)

Adults:

3.5–5.2 mEq/L)   or  3.5–5.2  mmol/L

Children:

3.4–4.7 mEq/L    or  3.4–4.7 mmol/L

Infants:

4.1–5.3 mEq/L    or   4.1–5.3 mmol/L

Newborns:

3.7–5.9 mEq/L    or   3.7–5.9 mmol/L

High values may be caused by:

• Damage or injury to the kidneys. This prevents the kidneys from removing potassium from the blood normally.
• Moving of  potassium from the body's cells into the blood. These conditions include severe burns, crushing injuries, heart attack, and diabetic ketoacidosis.
• Taking too many potassium supplements cause high blood levels of potassium.
• Too much acid (pH) in the blood by causing the potassium in the body's cells to "leak" out of cells and into the blood.
• Some medicines, such as aldosterone antagonists and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, can cause high levels.

 Steps you do:

1- check the sample for RBCs hemolysis, if present take another sample.

2- check patient medical history if suffuring from kidney or heart disease.

3- recheck QC of analyser to ensure your results.

With best wishes for success

high pottassium levels are indications of kidney failure ..

1.I check the sample for any RBC rupture because it results in high pottassium

2.inform the head

3.inform the patient