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We switched from plasma to serum to gel tubes a couple of years ago. Despite my having had some reservations we have not had any obvious problems. We increased the reference range from 3.5-4.8 to 3.8-5.5 mmol/L. A few patients can have significant differences between plasma and serum potassium level, e.g. those with high platelet counts. Graham Ball -----Original Message----- From: Stephen Halloran [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2002 11:50 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Are serum potassium measurements acceptable? Dear colleagues, For some while I have resisted pressure to adopt serum as the prime sample type for routine analysis. We retain fluoride oxalate preservative for glucose, lithium heparin anticoagulant for many other analytes particularly electrolytes and use serum primarily for immunoassays. The disparity between plasma and serum potassium is my particular concern and yet I know increasing automation has meant that many labs have adopt serum. Bayer have recommended we move to serum to improve the quality of analysis on their Advia 1650 analyser and also to help streamline sample processing on their automated sample processing and tracking system. Is now the time to concede? What is the experience of mail base members? Stephen Stephen P. Halloran Consultant Clinical Biochemist Royal Surrey County Hospital Egerton Road Guildford Surrey GU2 5XX Tel:- 01483 464121 Fax:- 01483 464072 Mobile 077 47 862 074 The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. Any opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of the Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it. Consultant Clinical Biochemist Royal Surrey County Hospital Egerton Road Guildford Surrey GU2 5XX Tel:- 01483 464121 Fax:- 01483 464072 Mobile 077 47 862 074 The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. Any opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of the Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it. ------ACB discussion List Information-------- This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical community working in clinical biochemistry. Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and they are responsible for all message content. ACB Web Site http://www.acb.org.uk List Archives http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html List Instructions (How to leave etc.) http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ This e-mail is confidential and may well also be legally privileged. If you have received it in error, you are on notice of its status. Please notify us immediately by reply e-mail and then delete this message from your system. Please do not copy it or use it for any purposes, or disclose its contents to any other person: to do so could be a breach of confidence. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except where the sender specifically states them to be the views of the Trust. Thank you for your co-operation. ------ACB discussion List Information-------- This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical community working in clinical biochemistry. Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and they are responsible for all message content. ACB Web Site http://www.acb.org.uk List Archives http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html List Instructions (How to leave etc.) http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/