Pseudohyperkalemia due to pneumatic tube transport in a leukemic patient.

Author(s): Kellerman PS, Thornbery JM

Publication: Am J Kidney Dis, 2005, Vol. 46, Page 746-8

PubMed ID: 16183430 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

Conclusion of Paper

Studies

1. Study Purpose

   The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of anticoagulant choice, collection container type and transport of blood specimens by PTS on potassium levels in plasma from patients with leukocytosis and patients with normal WBC counts. Within a 25 min timeframe, blood was drawn from a single patient with leukocytosis into: Two lithium heparin vacutainers, one of which was transported by PTS, and another was hand-delivered, and three arterial blood gas syringes, two of which contained heparin, and one with lithium heparin, all of which were hand-delivered. Blood was collected from 5 patients with normal WBC counts and transported by PTS of hand delivered. No statistical analysis was presented.

   Summary of Findings:

   When blood from the patient with leukocytosis was transported by PTS in a lithium heparin vacutainer, 2-3 fold higher plasma potassium levels were measured than when blood from the same patient was hand-delivered. However, PTS transport of whole blood had no effects on the levels of potassium in plasma from patients with normal WBC counts. Among specimens from the patient with leukocytosis, plasma potassium levels were unaffected by drawing blood into a syringe rather than a vacutainer or collection into lithium heparin versus heparin.

   Biospecimens

   • Bodily Fluid - Blood
   • Bodily Fluid - Plasma

   Preservative Types

   • None (Fresh)

   Diagnoses:

   • Not specified
   • Other diagnoses

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   Electrolyte/Metal	Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Storage	Within hospital transportation method	Hand-delivered Pneumatic tube system
   Biospecimen Acquisition	Anticoagulant	Heparin Lithium heparin
   Biospecimen Acquisition	Type of collection container/solution	Vacutainer Arterial blood gas syringe
   Preaquisition	Diagnosis/ patient condition	Leukocytosis Patient with normal WBC count

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