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Dear Colleagues, We have recently met analytical difficulties in a patient who underwent splenectomy (mesenteric vein thrombosis, chronic pancreatitis). Post-splenectomy platelet counts increased dramatically peaking at 2,150,000/µl. Potassium in serum (our source material for routine clinical chemistry) was repeatedly increased whereas the corresponding plasma values were normal (for example 6,1 versus 4,4 mmol/l). According to the literature similar problems might be suspected for ASAT and LDH. However, we did not see differences for these analytes between serum and plasma samples. Could you share your experience in similar patients? Are other analytes critically affected? Thank you very much for your input. Sincerely, Dr. med. Michael Steiner University of Rostock Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6 D-18057 Rostock GERMANY %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%