A home health nurse left shortly after dropping off a green top tube for a potassium level. Soon after, I processed it, spun it down, and ran it in our chemistry analyzer. Minutes later, I got a potassium level of 9.7 mEq/L. Wow!
I called the nurse and this is how our conversation went.
Me: Hi there. The specimen that was dropped earlier…we got a potassium level that was extremely high…
**Cuts me off**
Nurse: What did I do wrong this time? Last time you rejected my blue tube because it was short. How much blood do you need to do a PT/INR anyway?
Me: But her potassium level was really high that it seems incompatible with life…
**Cuts me off, again***
Nurse: I hate drawing blood for this reason. You guys are always picky with your tube colors. I drew it in a tube with a purple cap. My supervisor told me that I drew the wrong tube. So I transferred it to a green tube. I can’t see how it would affect her potassium level!
Me: …
Submitted by:
Rodney Lopez
Laboratory Technician
Florida, USA
