Editing Hemolysis (section)

===From specimen collection===
Most causes of ''in vitro'' hemolysis are related to specimen collection. Difficult collections, unsecure line connections, contamination, and incorrect needle size, as well as improper tube mixing and incorrectly filled tubes are all frequent causes of hemolysis.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=McCaughey|first1=Euan James|last2=Vecellio|first2=Elia|last3=Lake|first3=Rebecca|last4=Li|first4=Ling|last5=Burnett|first5=Leslie|last6=Chesher|first6=Douglas|last7=Braye|first7=Stephen|last8=Mackay|first8=Mark|last9=Gay|first9=Stephanie|date=2017-01-02|title=Key factors influencing the incidence of hemolysis: A critical appraisal of current evidence|journal=Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences|volume=54|issue=1|pages=59–72|doi=10.1080/10408363.2016.1250247|pmid=28013559|s2cid=753640|issn=1040-8363}}</ref> 

''In vitro'' hemolysis during specimen collection can cause inaccurate laboratory test results by contaminating the surrounding plasma with the contents of hemolyzed red blood cells. For example, the concentration of [[potassium]] inside red blood cells is much higher than in the plasma and so an elevated potassium level is usually found in biochemistry tests of hemolyzed blood.

After the blood collection process, ''in vitro'' hemolysis can still occur in a sample due to external factors, such as prolonged storage, incorrect storage conditions and excessive physical forces by dropping or vigorously mixing the tube.