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Test Code LAB436 Potassium, Urine, 24 Hour

Performing Laboratory

St. Louis Children's Hospital Laboratory - Chemistry

Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation: None

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Plain, brown-orange 24-hour urine collection container without preservatives

Specimen Collection Volume: Entire urine specimen collected over 24 hour period

Submission Container/Tube: If specimen is coming from outside facility, mix well and measure total volume before making aliquot with a minimum of 1.0 mL of urine into a plastic, leak-proof, screw-capped tube for transport labeling with volume and duration times or send entire 24-hr urine jug refrigerated.

Special Instructions: 

  1. Refrigerate specimen during collection.
  2. Note collection start and stop dates and times on collection container.
  3. Call lab at 314-454-4268 to obtain 24-hour collection jug if needed.
  4. Follow instructions on "Urine Collection".

Sample Rejection

Mislabled or unlabeled specimens

Logistics

Test Availability: Monday-Sunday

Cut-off time: None, performed as received

Turnaround Time: Same Day; 2 hours from receipt in performing lab

Reference Values

Reference Interval: 

<18 years: No reference intervals established          
≥ 18 years: 25.0-125.0 mmol/24 hours

Critical Value: None established

Methodology

Indirect Ion-Selective Electrode (ISE)

Limitations

  • NA

Additional Information

FOR SLCH CORE LABORATORY USE ONLY

Lab Processing Instructions: Mix well and measure total volume collected. Centrifuge an aliquot of the urine to clear any precipatates aliquoting cleared urine into a Roche-false bottom tube for testing.

Processed Volume: minimum 0.3 mL urine

Analyte Stability:

Specimen Type Temperature    Time
urine (without preservative)     Ambient 7 days  
  Refrigerated     6 weeks   
  Frozen  indefinitely      

NOTE: 

  • Total volume of specimen collected and collection duration period is required. Note this information on the aliquot container label and into LIS system.
  • If collection duration is <18 hours or >30 hours cancel the 24Hr orderable and re-order test using the Timed orderable.

Test Classification and CPT Code

84133

LOINC

Potassium 24Ur:  2829-0

Volume Ur:           19153-6

Duration:              13362-9

Last Reviewed

07/2025