Hemolysis causing false hyponatremia?

[Cerberus]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I've noticed a lot of times when I get a potassium that is through the roof (usually grossly hemolyzed but I've had it come back as "no visible hemolysis" as well) I'll also get a sodium that is in the 120s. On repeat both values tend to normalize. I've started sending repeats on any chemistry that has hyperkalemia and hyponatremia. I'm curious if anyone else has noticed this phenomenon or can explain it. I've searched through pubmed and google and haven't found this mentioned anywhere else.

 

[tkim]

http://books.google.com/books?id=S5...q=hyponatremia displacement hemolysis&f=false

 

[Cerberus]

http://books.google.com/books?id=S5...q=hyponatremia displacement hemolysis&f=false

I f'ing knew it!

 

[tkim]

I f'ing knew it!

Your search skills are weak.

 

[Apollyon]

Your search skills are weak.

You beat me to it - I was going to say that the OP gets a big FAIL for the attending doing his research for him. Scholarship? Yeah, right!

 

[Cerberus]

You beat me to it - I was going to say that the OP gets a big FAIL for the attending doing his research for him. Scholarship? Yeah, right!

Tkim surpasses my googling skills, but i usually skip the google.books results since they are usually crap.

 

[LabMonster]

As an aside to this topic, if you have questions concerning lab tests, there should, should be someone knowledgeable in the laboratory to offer you some guidance about testing. If that fails, request the package inserts for whatever test you have a question about. They conveniently provide FAR more information than you need.