We recently had a report from the ITU where the nurse obtained an heparinised blood specimen for blood gas analysis. Whatever the reason, at the same time another specimen was sent to the lab as a clotted specimen. Measurement of potassium on the ABL 725 blood gas analyser gave a result of 3.4 mmol/L, the potassium result on our analyser in the lab gave a result of 5.2 mmol/L. These findings were duplicated on several occasions, but only on one particular patient ! The usual causes were ruled out. When heparinised blood was sent to the lab as suggested we obtained the same result has on the ABL blood gas analyser. It was then found out that the patient had a very raised platelet count.
Keith Lewis
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