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Potassium
Abbreviation: K
Panel: Metabolic, Kidney & Electrolytes · All metabolic & kidney tests
Typical adult reference range
| Conventional units | 3.5–5.0 mEq/L |
| SI units | 3.5–5.0 mmol/L |
Ranges vary between laboratories and methods — compare your result with the range printed on your own report.
What a high or low result can mean
High potassium: high values can be seen in kidney failure, some medications, and hemolyzed samples.
Low potassium: low values may occur with vomiting, diarrhea, or diuretic use.
These are associations, not a diagnosis: the same result can have several causes, and your clinician interprets it with the rest of your results and history.
Good to know
Hemolysis during collection can falsely raise the result.
◆ Kidney note
This test is closely tied to kidney health, and it is one a kidney specialist (nephrologist) watches closely. On this site, kidney-related results are a special focus: see the kidney and dialysis medicines in our Drug Guide and the kidney condition hubs for the wider picture.