Clarilab

Kidney and electrolytes

Potassium test

Also called K

A salt essential for heart rhythm and muscles.

Typical range
3.5–5.1 mmol/L.
Usual recheck
About 1 month when out of range

Why it's done

Part of electrolytes; watched with kidney disease and blood pressure medicines.

What a high result can mean

Kidney problems or some blood pressure medicines; also falsely high if the sample was damaged. Very high levels affect heart rhythm.

What a low result can mean

Diuretics, vomiting or diarrhoea. Can cause cramps and weakness.

Got a report with Potassium?

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More kidney and electrolytes tests

Kidney function test (KFT)Creatinine, urea or BUN, uric acid, eGFR and usually electrolytes. CreatinineA waste product from muscles, cleared by the kidneys. eGFRAn estimate of how much blood your kidneys filter each minute, worked out from… UreaA waste product from protein breakdown, cleared by the kidneys. BUNThe nitrogen part of urea (urea ≈ BUN × 2.14). Uric acidA waste product from purines in food and cells.