A substance naturally found in foods, potassium is an electrolyte that serves several functions in the body, including regulating the balance of minerals and water as well as nerve and muscle function. If a person has symptoms of abnormal potassium levels, such as nausea, diarrhea, dehydration, confusion or decreases in blood pressure, a physician may order a test to measure potassium levels in the body. There are two methods to test for potassium levels: a urine test or a more invasive blood test.
Urine Collection
Step 1
Empty your bladder of all urine when you first wake up in the morning and record the time of this urination. Since the urine test for potassium is often collected over a 24-hour period, the first urination of the day is not collected. However, all ensuing urine samples within the 24-hour period are collected.
Step 2
Collect urine samples throughout the day with the smaller cup, adding each sample to the larger gallon container.
Step 3
Bring the urine sample to your physician's office or laboratory for for testing. Results typically take one day to process. In adults, normal potassium levels range from 25 to 123 millequivalents per liter while in children, normal amounts range from 17 to 57 milliequivalents per liter. If a person's potassium levels are found to be above or below this range, a physician should discuss any abnormal results.
Blood Test
Step 1
Arrive at the testing site where a nurse will wrap an elastic band around your upper arm. This helps to stop blood flow and make a vein larger and therefore more easy to pinpoint.
Step 2
Know that the nurse cleans your arm with alcohol, then puts a needle into the vein. An attached tube collects the blood. The band is then removed and gauze or a cotton ball is put in its place.
Step 3
Bandage the site and keep the bandage on as directed (usually a few hours or more).
Step 4
Meet with a physician to discuss lab results. The blood potassium test checks for the overall level of potassium. Normal levels for adults range from 3.5 to 5.0 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L); 3.4 to 4.7 mEq/L in children; 4.1 to 5.3 mEq/L in infants; and 3.9 to 5.9 mEq/L in newborns.
Tips and Warnings
- To ensure the best urine samples are collected, avoid getting certain materials in the urine sample, including toilet paper, pubic hair, stool, blood or other foreign matter.
- Be certain to disclose all medications you are currently taking before undergoing testing as medications, including diuretics, can affect potassium levels.
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