Electrolytes
Clinical teaching and practical ideas for your next study session.
TLS Hypocalcemia: Why Phosphate Is the Missing Link
Trace how phosphate released during tumor lysis lowers calcium and can injure the kidneys. A focused retrieval drill helps you explain the mechanism without overreading one lab panel.
Corrected Calcium on Boards: Calculate It Without Calling It Ionized Calcium
For a calcium SAQ, calculate the requested albumin adjustment—but be precise about what the estimate can and cannot prove.
Cold Specimens and High Potassium: The Transport Clue
Cold transport before blood cells are separated can raise measured potassium. Learn why specimen temperature matters, what it cannot prove, and how to ask the laboratory for a reliable repeat.
Pseudohyperkalemia: When the Sample, Not the Patient, Adds Potassium
A normal repeat does not identify the artifact. Trace how clotting, fragile blood cells, fist pumping, and specimen handling can raise measured potassium—and choose a confirmation that fits the suspected source.