Electrolytes are minerals that have an electrical charge when they are dissolved in water or body fluids. You have electrolytes in your blood, urine, tissues, and other body fluids.
An electrolyte panel is often part of a routine blood screening or a comprehensive metabolic panel. The test may also be used to find out if your body has a fluid imbalance or an imbalance in acid and base levels.
Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
Normal range
- ≤ 7 d
- 3.2–5.5 mmol/L (varies by lab) ARUP 3.2–5.5 · LabCorp 3.7–5.2 mmol/L
- 1 y+
- 3.3–5.2 mmol/L (varies by lab) ARUP 3.3–5 · LabCorp 3.5–5.2 · Mayo 3.6–5.2 mmol/L
- 2 mo – 6 mo
- 3.5–5.6 mmol/L
- 30 d – 6 mo
- 3.8–6 mmol/L
- 7 mo – 1 y
- 3.8–5.3 mmol/L
- 7 mo – 11 mo
- 3.5–6.1 mmol/L
- 8 d – 30 d
- 3.4–6.4 mmol/L (varies by lab) ARUP 3.4–6 · LabCorp 3.7–6.4 mmol/L
Ranges from ARUP Laboratories Test Directory, LabCorp Test Directory, Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog), Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog).
All 14 source ranges
What moves it
| Recommendation | When | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potassium — address deficiency | Low | National Institutes of Health - Office of Dietary Supplements |
What an abnormal result can be associated with
- A high result
- Hyperkalemia
- A low result
- Hypokalemia
Associations from LOINC2HPO (Human Phenotype Ontology). This is reference information, not a diagnosis — only a clinician can interpret your result in context.
Details
- Sample
- Serum or plasma · LOINC
- Part of
- Electrolytes panel
- Monitored for
- Chronic kidney disease · Hypertension
- Listed under
- Fluid and Electrolyte Balance · Potassium
- Code
- LOINC 2823-3 · mEq/L
- Also known as
- Potass