Colorimetric determination of potassium in whole blood, serum, and plasma

This spectrophotometric method for the direct determination of potassium in serum or plasma is based on the selective complexing of potassium by a specific macrocyclic polyether, with the subsequent formation of an ion-pair with a colored anion. The colored anion is extracted into an organic solvent, clarified by centrifugation, and then measured at 415 nm. The absorbance of the chromogen varies linearly with [K+] to at least 15 mmol/L. Results of this colorimetric method (y) correlate well with the results obtained by a flame-photometric method (y = 1.04x - 0.22, r = 0.97, n = 81), with CVs ranging from 2 to 4%. We observed no interferences from lipemia, added bilirubin, or various electrolytes. We also evaluated the use of this reagent in a new automated blood analyzer developed by Abbott, a two-dimensional centrifugal system (Clin Chem 31:1457-1463, 1985). Potassium determined with this system (y) correlated well with results by flame photometry: y = 1.02x + 0.02 (r = 0.94, n = 168). With this system one can use whole-blood specimens in measuring potassium.