Nursing Central: Potassium, Urine

Potassium, Urine

General

Synonym/Acronym:
Urine K⁺.

Common Use:
To evaluate electrolyte balance, acid-base balance, and hypokalemia.

Specimen:
Urine (5 mL) from an unpreserved random or timed specimen collected in a clean plastic collection container.

Normal Findings:
(Method: Ion-selective electrode)

Age	Conventional Units	SI Units (Conventional Units × 1)
6–10 yr
Male	17–54 mEq/24 hr	17–54 mmol/24 hr
Female	8–37 mEq/24 hr	8–37 mmol/24 hr
10–14 yr
Male	22–57 mEq/24 hr	22–57 mmol/24 hr
Female	18–58 mEq/24 hr	18–58 mmol/24 hr
Adult–older adult	26–123 mEq/24 hr	26–123 mmol/24 hr
Note: Reference values depend on potassium intake and diurnal variation. Excretion is significantly higher at night. Potassium excretion declines in older adults due to the decline in aldosterone levels, decline in renal function, and effects of commonly prescribed medications that inhibit the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Potassium, Urine has been found in Davis's Lab & Diagnostic Tests

If you are a registered user, please login below.

If not, learn more about gaining full access.

Login: User Name:

Password:

Forgot your password?
Forgot your username?
Remember Me

Try and Buy

Nursing Central puts five fully integrated references at your fingertips on mobile devices and the web. See how Nursing Central works by clicking the sample entries below or purchase a subscription for the web and your mobile device.

View these free topics online now.