: 24-Hour Potassium Intake

: What This Test Measures

: The test looks at potassium taken in from food and drinks across a full 24-hour period. Potassium is a mineral and electrolyte that helps nerves and muscles, including the heart, work properly, and the body tightly controls how much stays in the blood.

: How the Assessment Is Done

: Depending on your care team's approach, this may involve collecting all urine produced over 24 hours for laboratory measurement, or a structured review of your diet and supplements. Follow the specific collection or recording instructions you are given so the estimate is as accurate as possible.

: Preparing for the Assessment

: If a 24-hour urine collection is requested, you will usually be asked to start after discarding the first morning urine, then keep all urine for the next 24 hours, including the final sample at the end of the period. Keep the container cool as instructed, avoid losing any samples, and tell your care team about medicines, salt substitutes, or supplements that could affect potassium.

: What the Results Can Mean

: Results are used to understand your typical potassium intake, not to diagnose a condition on their own. Intake that is consistently low or high is interpreted alongside your blood potassium, kidney function, blood pressure, medicines, and overall diet, so your clinician will explain what your result means for you.