Before reporting a potassium of 6.8 mEq/L, the first step the technologist should take is to:

• A. Check the Serum for Hemolysis
• B. Rerun the Test
• C. Check the Age of the Patient
• D. Do Nothing, Simply Report Out the Result

Answer: (A)

Potassium is largely inside red blood cells, so when a blood sample is hemolyzed—red cells rupture during collection or handling potassium leaks into the serum—the measured potassium can rise falsely. This makes recognizing hemolysis the crucial first step before reporting a high value. If the specimen shows hemolysis, the result is unreliable and you should obtain a new sample and remeasure after proper technique to minimize hemolysis. If the sample isn’t hemolyzed, you would then verify the result (often by repeating the test) to confirm true hyperkalemia. Rerunning without addressing possible hemolysis could just reproduce the artifact, and factors like the patient’s age don’t resolve a sample quality issue.