Hi everyone,
Me again with another question
Moritz had a blood test last week and his potassium measured quite high (6.6 mmol/l, normal range 3.4 - 5.0). I was very nervous and called the vet, who told me that due to damage to the blood sample (I believe she said during transport -- I'm living in Germany so may not have understood 100%), the potassium reading can be false. Because of this, they measure potassium directly at the vet's office, too. This reading was normal (4.38, normal range 3.0 - 4.8). I was calmed down, but now I'm staring to get nervous again and wanted to double check with you folks. There seems to have been some disagreement recently in the forum regarding damage to specimens and false potassium readings (I'm not sure if it's possible to quote from another topic in a new topic, so I'm just including the links):
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=61156&p=663495&hilit=hemolysis#p663495
scroll down to Lisa and Merlyn's entry which begins "Thanks myboo99" and continue reading. I'm mainly wondering about this post:
"Hi Lisa
This is true, potassium isn't usually elevated in cats with hemolysis and/or platelet aggregation. It's possible, and I know it's a big thing in humans, but in cats and dogs it's just not seen very often. And it doesn't affect sodium.
Let us know what happens with the blood test." (please note, I don't mean to criticize the person who wrote this. I'm just wondering if that info. is accurate.)
and here:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=62641&p=678497&hilit=potassium#p678497
scroll down to Melissa and Bailey's entry beginning with "Hemolysis means" and continue reading.
and here:
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=62650&p=678194&hilit=potassium#p678194
I assume hemolysis is the name for the damage that can occur to a blood sample (I did some research online, but all of the medical jargon is quite confusing to me).
So my questions are: does damage to blood samples occur causing potassium readings to be higher than they actually are? And if so, can this be caused either by transport or error by the person drawing the blood? Can damage to the sample/error while taking the sample cause a potassium reading to be lower than it actually is? Since the reading taken at the vet's was in the normal range, there's no need to worry, right?
Thank you so much to everyone! I'm feeling rather overwhelmed at the moment (as you can probably tell by my post). I've been monitoring Moritz's diabetes super closely this past month, and I don't want to jinx it, but I feel like we're so close to not needing insulin anymore (he's just getting a touch now :smile: and he's been so brave and patient with all of the blood sugar measuring :smile: I'm sure you all know that close monitoring and lack of sleep can be exhausting, and sometimes you just get so nervous and overwhelmed.
Anyway, thanks again!
Elena
Me again with another question
Moritz had a blood test last week and his potassium measured quite high (6.6 mmol/l, normal range 3.4 - 5.0). I was very nervous and called the vet, who told me that due to damage to the blood sample (I believe she said during transport -- I'm living in Germany so may not have understood 100%), the potassium reading can be false. Because of this, they measure potassium directly at the vet's office, too. This reading was normal (4.38, normal range 3.0 - 4.8). I was calmed down, but now I'm staring to get nervous again and wanted to double check with you folks. There seems to have been some disagreement recently in the forum regarding damage to specimens and false potassium readings (I'm not sure if it's possible to quote from another topic in a new topic, so I'm just including the links):
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=61156&p=663495&hilit=hemolysis#p663495
scroll down to Lisa and Merlyn's entry which begins "Thanks myboo99" and continue reading. I'm mainly wondering about this post:
"Hi Lisa
This is true, potassium isn't usually elevated in cats with hemolysis and/or platelet aggregation. It's possible, and I know it's a big thing in humans, but in cats and dogs it's just not seen very often. And it doesn't affect sodium.
Let us know what happens with the blood test." (please note, I don't mean to criticize the person who wrote this. I'm just wondering if that info. is accurate.)
and here:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=62641&p=678497&hilit=potassium#p678497
scroll down to Melissa and Bailey's entry beginning with "Hemolysis means" and continue reading.
and here:
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=62650&p=678194&hilit=potassium#p678194
I assume hemolysis is the name for the damage that can occur to a blood sample (I did some research online, but all of the medical jargon is quite confusing to me).
So my questions are: does damage to blood samples occur causing potassium readings to be higher than they actually are? And if so, can this be caused either by transport or error by the person drawing the blood? Can damage to the sample/error while taking the sample cause a potassium reading to be lower than it actually is? Since the reading taken at the vet's was in the normal range, there's no need to worry, right?
Thank you so much to everyone! I'm feeling rather overwhelmed at the moment (as you can probably tell by my post). I've been monitoring Moritz's diabetes super closely this past month, and I don't want to jinx it, but I feel like we're so close to not needing insulin anymore (he's just getting a touch now :smile: and he's been so brave and patient with all of the blood sugar measuring :smile: I'm sure you all know that close monitoring and lack of sleep can be exhausting, and sometimes you just get so nervous and overwhelmed.
Anyway, thanks again!
Elena
