Potassium

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

13 published ranges, each from a named source

3.25.5 mmol/L drawn: ≤ 7 d · ARUP Laboratories Test Directory

≤ 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 source ranges (13)

Source	Sex	Age	Range
American Board of Internal Medicine (Laboratory Test Reference Ranges)	All	all ages	3.5–5 mEq/L
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory	All	≤ 7 d	3.2–5.5 mmol/L
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory	All	8 d – 30 d	3.4–6 mmol/L
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory	All	2 mo – 6 mo	3.5–5.6 mmol/L
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory	All	7 mo – 11 mo	3.5–6.1 mmol/L
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory	All	1 y+	3.3–5 mmol/L
LabCorp Test Directory	All	≤ 7 d	3.7–5.2 mmol/L
LabCorp Test Directory	All	8 d – 30 d	3.7–6.4 mmol/L
LabCorp Test Directory	All	30 d – 6 mo	3.8–6 mmol/L
LabCorp Test Directory	All	7 mo – 1 y	3.8–5.3 mmol/L
LabCorp Test Directory	All	1 y+	3.5–5.2 mmol/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog)	All	1 y+	3.6–5.2 mmol/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog)	All	1 y+	3.6–5.2 mmol/L

What moves it

cited guidance. not medical advice

Potassium — address deficiency when 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

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