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Mayo Test ID ELPSR Electrolyte Panel, Serum


Necessary Information


Patient's age and sex are required.



Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.

2. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged, and the serum aliquoted into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.


Useful For

Identifying a suspected imbalance in electrolytes or acid/base imbalance

Method Name

KS, NAS, CL: Indirect Potentiometry

HCO3: Photometric

AGAP: Calculation

Reporting Name

Electrolyte Panel, S

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.4 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum Refrigerated 24 hours

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia OK

Clinical Information

The electrolyte panel is ordered to identify electrolyte, fluid, or pH imbalance. Electrolyte concentrations are evaluated to assist in investigating conditions that cause electrolyte imbalances such as dehydration, kidney disease, lung diseases, or heart conditions. Repeat testing of the electrolyte or its components may be used to monitor the patient’s response to treatment of any condition that may be causing the electrolyte, fluid or pH imbalance.

 

Electrolyte and acid-base imbalances can often be indicative of many acute and chronic illnesses. For this reason, the electrolyte panel is often used in the hospital and emergency settings to evaluate patients.

Reference Values

SODIUM

<1 year: not established

≥1 year: 135-145 mmol/L

 

POTASSIUM

<1 year: not established

≥1 year: 3.6-5.2 mmol/L

 

CHLORIDE

<1 year: not established

1-17 years: 102-112 mmol/L

≥18 years: 98-107 mmol/L

 

BICARBONATE

Males

<1 year: not established

1-2 years: 17-25 mmol/L

3 years: 18-26 mmol/L

4-5 years: 19-27 mmol/L

6-7 years: 20-28 mmol/L

8-17 years: 21-29 mmol/L

≥18 years: 22-29 mmol/L

Females

<1 year: not established

1-3 years: 18-25 mmol/L

4-5 years: 19-26 mmol/L

6-7 years: 20-27 mmol/L

8-9 years: 21-28 mmol/L

≥10 years: 22-29 mmol/L

 

ANION GAP

<7 years: not established

≥7 years: 7-15

Interpretation

With an imbalance of a single electrolyte, such as sodium or potassium, repeat testing may be ordered of that particular electrolyte, can be used to monitor the imbalance until remedied. With an acid-base imbalance, blood gases may be ordered, which will measure the oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH levels in the arterial blood. These tests assist in evaluating the acuteness of the imbalance and monitoring the response to treatment.

Cautions

No significant cautionary statements

Clinical Reference

1. Oh MS: Evaluation of renal function, water, electrolytes, and acid-base balance. In Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 22nd edition. Edited by RA McPherson, MR Pincus. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 14

2. AACC: Lab Tests Online: Access 03/22/2017. Available at https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/electrolyes

Method Description

Potassium, Sodium, Chloride:

An ion-selective electrode (ISE) makes use of the unique properties of ion-selective membrane to develop an electrical potential (electromotive force: EMF) for the measurements of ions in solution. Selective membrane is in contact with both the test solution and an internal filling solution. Due to the selectivity of the membrane, only the ions to be measured contribute to the EMF. The membrane EMF is determined by the difference in concentration of the test ion in the test solution and the internal filling solution. The EMF develops according to Nernst equation of a specific ion in solution.(Package insert: ISE indirect Na-K-Cl for Gen 2. Roche Diagnostics; 05/2024)

 

Bicarbonate:

Bicarbonate reacts with phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) in the presence of PEPC to produce oxaloacetate and phosphate. That reaction is coupled with one involving the transfer of a hydrogen ion from reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) analog to oxaloacetate using malate dehydrogenase. The resultant consumption of NADH analog causes a decrease in absorbance, which is proportional to the concentration of bicarbonate in the sample being analyzed.(Package insert: Bicarbonate reagent. Roche Diagnostics; 02/2023)

 

Anion Gap:

This is a calculated result. The following equation is used to calculate the anion gap (A gap):

A gap = Na - (Cl + HCO3[-])

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

Report Available

Same day/1 to 2 days

Specimen Retention Time

1 week

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

80051-Electrolyte Panel (if all 4 are performed)

82435-Chloride (if all 4 are not performed)

84295- Sodium (if all 4 are not performed)

84132-Potassium (if all 4 are not performed)

82374-Bicarbonate (if all 4 are not performed)

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
ELPSR Electrolyte Panel, S 24326-1

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
NAS Sodium, S 2951-2
KS Potassium, S 2823-3
CL Chloride, S 2075-0
HCO3 Bicarbonate, S 1963-8
AGAP Anion Gap 33037-3