Can Potassium Be Included in the Anion Gap Calculation?
The brief answer is yes, potassium can be part of an anion gap calculation method, but it usually is not in the usual clinical formula. Most anion gap calculator tools use sodium, chloride, and bicarbonate because those values are the most common and convenient for standard interpretation. Potassium is a real electrolyte and can be part of a adjusted anion gap formula , but excluding it is the norm because it contributes little to everyday clinical decision-makin