What To Think About

• Low blood potassium values are more common than high blood potassium values.
• An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) may show signs of a very high or very low blood potassium level because of the effect potassium has on the heart. For more information, see the topic Electrocardiogram.
• Other electrolyte tests, such as sodium, calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphate, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine, are often done at the same time as a test for potassium. For more information, see the topics Sodium (Na) in Blood, Calcium (Ca) in Blood, Chloride (Cl), Magnesium (Mg), Phosphate, Blood Urea Nitrogen, and Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance.