The potassium level in serum is about 0.4-0.5 mEq/L higher than the potassium level in whole blood or plasma (literature range, 0.1-1.2 mEq/L). This is attributed at least in part to potassium released from platelets during clotting. Serum specimens may have artifactual potassium level increase additional to that of normal clotting in patients with very […]