Correction of Factitious Hyperkalemia in Hemolysed Specimens from Adult Emergency Department Using the Beckman Coulter Unicell DxC 880i® Analyzer Derived Factor

Abstract

Hemolysis in ED (emergency department) patients is common due to difficult blood draws. Values of serum potassium (K + ) become falsely elevated secondary to release of intracellular contents. Objective: The aim of the study was to establish a correction factor for factitious elevated K + in samples for de adult ED. Methods: We used samples from 125 adult ED patients, in which the 2nd sample was drawn due to hemolysis of the first tube. Results: Firstly, we derived a correction factor expressing an increase in potassium concentration in 0.21 mmol/L (95% confidence interval, 0.17-0.24 mmol/L with p < 0.01) for each hemolysis index increment. Conclusions: A reliable correction factor for factitious hyperkalemia in a clinical relevant range exists.

Clinical Evaluation of the Torq Zero Delay Centrifuge System for Decentralized Blood Collection and Stabilization

“…Plasma-free hemoglobin was assessed by calibrated spectrophotometry by a Beckman DU530 spectrophotometer using the 415 nm, 450 nm, and 700 nm wavelengths [25]. A plasma hemoglobin level of 100 mg/dL or higher significantly interferes with many assays and may be used as a rejection threshold, above which blood collection may need to be repeated [26,27]. Similarly, the acceptable limits for cell contamination for the separated plasma were defined as 6 × 10 6 /mL, 0.1 × 10 6 /mL, and 50 × 10 6 /mL for RBCs, WBCs, and PLTs, respectively [28].…”