Kidney
Potassium — what it measures
For understanding, not diagnosis. Reference ranges differ between laboratories; the ranges on your own report, and your doctor’s reading of them, always come first.
What it measures
Potassium is the main electrolyte inside your cells and is essential for normal heart rhythm and muscle function. Blood potassium is part of routine kidney panels, and both low and high values matter clinically.
What can skew it
A difficult blood draw that damages red cells can falsely raise potassium, as can some medicines and kidney problems; labs often flag suspected sample issues.
Reference ranges
Reference ranges vary slightly by laboratory, and abnormal potassium is always interpreted promptly by a clinician because of its heart-rhythm importance.
Medical disclaimer: This page is educational only. It cannot tell you whether your result is normal or what to do about it — that is a decision for your doctor, with your full history.