What would High potassium levels indicate??? Age 39...

raffomimi · April 2012

Hi Everyone, I got my port flushed yesterday and had bloods done and I got the results back and it says my potassium levels are 6.2. Normal levels are 3.5 to 5. I don't know why this would be. I have to go back in the morning to have my bloods done again. Saying that I have been feeling a little nausea on and off the last 3 wks and stomach distended on and off and a feeling like I had emptied my kidneys after they have been full for hours and aches in my kidneys afterwards and around my liver area. I started Tamoxifen February 17th, would Tamoxifen increase your potassium levels?

cp418 · April 2012

It is highly probable this is due to a specimen issue where your sample got hemolyzed during your blood draw. The result is a FALSE elevated Potassium result - - where a repeat sample will show you are indeed within normal range. Usually the laboratory will add a note to the result report stating the sample was hemolyzed. This alerts your doctor that the elevated result should be ignored as invalid result.

Here are pictures of hemolyzed samples. (note - it applies to human samples too)

http://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/clinpath/modules/chem/hemol.htm

http://www.cap.org/apps/cap.portal?_nfpb=true&cntvwrPtlt_actionOverride=%2Fportlets%2FcontentViewer%2Fshow&_windowLabel=cntvwrPtlt&cntvwrPtlt%7BactionForm.contentReference%7D=cap_today%2Fq_and_a%2Fqa_06_04.html&_state=maximized&_pageLabel=cntvwr

raffomimi · April 2012

Thank you very much CP418.

Blessings to you

Maria

fadheir · May 2012

I did a blood test and i also find my potassium 5.50 and phosphate of 4.17

CP418, i think my blood was hemplysed it was dark red duringtheblood draw.

i was concerned that my kidneys is not doing well and the lab did not mention anything regarding hemplysed sample or hyper-results.

What would High potassium levels indicate??? Age 39...

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