Potassium

ChemistryAlso known as: KAlso known as: Serum potassiummmol/kg

Measures potassium content in blood to assess intestinal potassium loss.

Normal Range

Consult your provider

mmol/kg

Abnormal Levels

Consult your provider

Specimen Type

Blood

Why This Biomarker Matters

Abnormal stool potassium helps identify causes of electrolyte imbalances that affect heart rhythm and muscle function. This test guides treatment for persistent potassium abnormalities.

Overview

Potassium is a vital electrolyte that regulates heart rhythm, muscle function, and fluid balance. Blood potassium testing is one of the most commonly ordered laboratory tests, included in both the Basic and Comprehensive Metabolic Panels. Hypokalemia (low potassium) can result from diuretic use, vomiting, or diarrhea and may cause muscle weakness, cramps, and dangerous cardiac arrhythmias. Hyperkalemia (high potassium) may result from kidney disease, certain medications (ACE inhibitors, potassium-sparing diuretics), or tissue damage. Both extremes require prompt clinical intervention due to life-threatening cardiac risks.

Related Health Conditions

Conditions where Potassium is commonly tested

Adrenal cortical hypofunction

Chronic kidney disease

Essential hypertension

Heart failure

Hyperkalemia

Hypokalemia

Stress

Related Health Goals

Balance Hormones

Improve Cardiovascular Fitness

Improve Heart Health

Improve Kidney Health

Manage Stress and Cortisol

Optimize Electrolyte Balance

Treatments & Interventions

Therapies monitored using Potassium

Chlorothiazide sodium

Potassium chloride

Trichlormethiazide

Deslanoside

Hydralazine hydrochloride

Cortisone

Esmolol hydrochloride

Cyclothiazide

Quinethazone

Enalaprilat

Labetalol hydrochloride

Hydrocortisone butyrate

Hydrocortisone valerate

Potassium acetate

Amrinone lactate

Technical Information (LOINC Codes)

Standardized laboratory codes for this biomarker

6298-4Primary

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Blood

mmol/L

2823-3

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Serum or Plasma

mmol/L

2828-2

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Urine

mmol/L

25506-7

Potassium [Moles/mass] in Stool

mmol/kg

2819-1

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Cerebral spinal fluid

mmol/L

6940-1

Potassium [Moles/time] in unspecified time Stool

27441-5

Potassium [Moles/mass] in 24 hour Stool

meq/kg

57379-0

Potassium [Moles/volume] in 2 hour Urine

mmol/L

14172-1

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Synovial fluid

mmol/L

17795-6

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Hyperal solution

mmol/L

6792-6

Potassium [Moles/time] in 24 hour Stool

mmol/(24.h)

2824-1

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Red Blood Cells

mmol/L

51720-1

Potassium [Mass/time] in 24 hour Urine

g/(24.h)

35677-4

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Urine collected for unspecified duration

nmol/L

32336-0

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Specimen

mmol/L

15202-5

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Stool

mmol/L

75940-7

Potassium [Mass/volume] in Blood

mg/dL

21476-7

Potassium [Moles/volume] in 24 hour Urine

mmol/L

39790-1

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Capillary blood

mmol/L

2829-0

Potassium [Moles/time] in 24 hour Urine

mmol/(24.h)

41656-0

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Mixed venous blood

mmol/L

2821-7

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Body fluid

mmol/L

32713-0

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Arterial blood

mmol/L

39789-3

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Venous blood

mmol/L

39785-1

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Peritoneal dialysis fluid

mmol/L

12814-0

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Vitreous fluid

mmol/L

32550-6

Potassium [Molar amount] in Urine collected for unspecified duration

mmol

30549-0

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Total parental nutrition

mmol/L

49788-3

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Amniotic fluid

mmol/L

49789-1

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Peritoneal fluid

mmol/L

50902-6

Potassium [Moles/mass] in Hair

umol/g

2827-4

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Sweat

mmol/L

53123-6

Potassium [Moles/time] in 1 hour Urine

mmol/h

57355-0

Potassium [Moles/volume] in 12 hour Urine

mmol/L

2826-6

Potassium [Moles/time] in 72 hour Stool

mmol/(72.h)

57380-8

Potassium [Moles/time] in 12 hour Urine

mmol/(12.h)

58996-0

Potassium [Moles/time] in 18 hour Urine

mmol/(18.h)

59162-8

Potassium [Moles/volume] in 24 hour Stool

mmol/L

59733-6

Potassium [Mass/mass] in Tissue

meq/g

60218-5

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Mother's milk

mmol/L

2825-8

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Saliva (oral fluid)

mmol/L

2822-5

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Gastric fluid

mmol/L

2820-9

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Dialysis fluid

mmol/L

18372-3

Potassium [Moles/time] in 6 hour Urine

mmol/(6.h)

77142-8

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Serum, Plasma or Blood

mmol/L

79710-0

Potassium [Mass/mass] in Hair

ug/g

82722-0

Potassium [Mass/volume] in Red Blood Cells

mg/L

87454-5

Potassium [Mass/volume] in Specimen

mg/dL

87455-2

Potassium [Mass/mass] in Specimen

ug/g

9482-1

Potassium [Mass/volume] in Water

[ppm]

94841-4

Potassium [Moles/volume] in Urine from Fetus

mmol/L

Available Lab Tests

Order tests that measure this biomarker

Find Specialists

Doctors who commonly order this test

Internal Medicine

Cardiovascular Disease

Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

Hypertension Specialist

Nephrology

Psychiatry

Potassium

Why This Biomarker Matters

Overview

Related Health Conditions

Adrenal cortical hypofunction

Chronic kidney disease

Essential hypertension

Heart failure

Hyperkalemia

Hypokalemia

Stress

Related Health Goals

Balance Hormones

Improve Cardiovascular Fitness

Improve Heart Health

Improve Kidney Health

Manage Stress and Cortisol

Optimize Electrolyte Balance

Treatments & Interventions

Chlorothiazide sodium

Potassium chloride

Trichlormethiazide

Deslanoside

Hydralazine hydrochloride

Cortisone

Esmolol hydrochloride

Cyclothiazide

Quinethazone

Enalaprilat

Labetalol hydrochloride

Hydrocortisone butyrate

Hydrocortisone valerate

Potassium acetate

Amrinone lactate

Technical Information (LOINC Codes)

Available Lab Tests

Adrenal Complete

Advanced Cardiovascular Health Basic

Advanced Cardiovascular Health Comprehensive

Advanced Liver Health Basic

Advanced Liver Health Comprehensive

Cancer Tumor Markers Men Basic

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

Potassium Plasma Test

Potassium RBC Test

Find Specialists