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УкраїнськаSodium and potassium tests: price in 2026, electrolytes, magnesium, NFZ
indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index
A private sodium and potassium test (electrolytes) costs around PLN 26, while a potassium test alone most commonly costs PLN 18 (typically PLN 14 ‑ 23, with price-list prices ranging from PLN 5 to PLN 38). The price depends mainly on the laboratory and collection point. With a doctor's referral, both tests are free through the NFZ (Polish public health insurance).
At a glance (as at 5 October 2026)
- A private blood potassium test usually costs PLN 14 ‑ 23, while the median from laboratory price lists is PLN 18.
- An electrolyte test, covering sodium and potassium together, costs around PLN 26.
- The cheapest potassium test in the collected price lists costs PLN 5, while the most expensive costs PLN 38, depending on the collection point.
- A private creatinine test, often ordered together with electrolytes, costs around PLN 19.
- With a doctor's referral, potassium and sodium tests are free through the NFZ (Polish public health insurance). Without a referral, you pay according to the laboratory's price list.
Potassium and sodium are two essential electrolytes that doctors test in cases of high blood pressure, use of diuretics, kidney disease, dehydration or muscle cramps. Both tests are inexpensive, but prices can vary severalfold between laboratories, while packages often also include creatinine, calcium and magnesium. Below, we compare laboratory price lists and explain what you are paying for.
How much do sodium and potassium tests cost?
A private sodium and potassium test, which measures blood electrolytes, costs around PLN 26 for both measurements together. This figure should be treated as a guide because we only have 2 price lists for it. A potassium test alone most commonly costs PLN 18, according to 3 price lists collected by indekscen.pl, while the typical range is PLN 14 ‑ 23. Details and quotations from price lists are available on the potassium test page.
In practice, ordering potassium and sodium together is usually better value than two separate tests because the laboratory collects only one tube of blood and measures both parameters using the same analyser.
| Service | Median | Typically | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potassium test | PLN 18 | PLN 14 ‑ 23 | 3 |
| Electrolyte test (potassium and sodium) | PLN 26 | PLN 26 ‑ 27 | 2 |
| Creatinine test | PLN 19 | PLN 17 ‑ 20 | 2 |
| Calcium level test | PLN 21 | PLN 19 ‑ 24 | 2 |
| Full blood count | PLN 25 | PLN 23 ‑ 29 | 5 |
Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.
How much does a blood potassium test cost at different laboratories?
A blood potassium test costs from PLN 5 to PLN 38 at laboratory chains, with differences arising mainly from the collection point rather than the method itself. The same chain may charge different prices in different cities and facilities because some collection points are run by partners with their own price lists. The cheapest tests are usually available from laboratories’ online shops, where you pay in advance and then only need to visit for the blood draw.
We do not yet have separate potassium test prices for individual cities. If you want the lowest price, compare two or three nearby collection points. The difference for a single test is only a few PLN, but becomes noticeable with a package of several tests.
How much do potassium and magnesium tests cost?
Potassium and magnesium tests cost the sum of the two separate tests because most laboratories list them as separate items. A private potassium test usually costs PLN 14 ‑ 23. We do not yet have magnesium test prices in the index, so we will not provide an unsupported figure. Magnesium is generally in the same price category as potassium and calcium, as all are blood biochemistry tests.
If your doctor has ordered several electrolyte tests at once, check whether the laboratory offers a ready-made package, such as electrolytes with magnesium and calcium. Packages can cost less than the sum of the individual items, but this is not always the case, so it is worth comparing prices.
When does a doctor order a potassium test?
Doctors most commonly order potassium tests when monitoring treatment for high blood pressure and heart disease, when a patient takes diuretics, and in cases of kidney disease, prolonged vomiting or diarrhoea, muscle cramps or muscle weakness. People taking such medicines usually need repeat tests from time to time, so the cost of PLN 18 per test adds up over the year. In this situation, it is worth asking your doctor for an NFZ referral for regular tests.
Which tests are performed together with a potassium test?
Alongside potassium, doctors most commonly order sodium, creatinine and a full blood count. Creatinine indicates how well the kidneys, which regulate potassium levels, are working, while a full blood count is a standard test included with most orders.
| Test | Why it is ordered with potassium | Private price |
|---|---|---|
| Potassium | electrolyte balance, high blood pressure medication | PLN 14 ‑ 23 |
| Sodium and potassium (electrolytes) | a fuller picture of hydration and electrolyte levels | around PLN 26 |
| Creatinine | function of the kidneys, which remove potassium | around PLN 19 |
| Total calcium | another important electrolyte, often included in packages | around PLN 21 |
| Full blood count | a standard test included with most orders | PLN 23 ‑ 29 |
This table is not a list of tests to order yourself. A doctor selects the appropriate tests, and people taking heart or kidney medication usually have them regularly, as advised by their doctor. We discuss the price of a full blood count with a complete differential in the article full blood count with differential: price.
Do you need to fast before a potassium test?
Laboratories usually recommend attending a potassium test in the morning, either fasting or after a light meal, and avoiding strenuous exercise before the blood draw. Potassium does not change as much after eating as glucose, but it is often tested together with other parameters that require fasting. The simplest approach is to follow the instructions on the selected laboratory’s test information page.
How to prepare for an electrolyte test:
- Attend in the morning, preferably after a night’s rest and without exercising beforehand.
- Drink plain water, as it will not interfere with the test and makes it easier to draw blood.
- Do not stop taking medicines without medical advice. If you take diuretics or medication for high blood pressure, ask your doctor whether to take them before the blood draw.
- Do not clench your fist tightly during the blood draw. Keeping the tourniquet tight for too long and working the muscles may falsely increase the potassium result.
- Mention any potassium or magnesium supplements when your doctor reviews the result.
Is a potassium test covered by the NFZ?
A potassium test is free through the NFZ (Polish public health insurance) if you have a referral from a GP or specialist contracted by the NFZ. Without a referral, you pay privately according to the laboratory’s price list, usually PLN 14 ‑ 23. The amount is low, so many people choose a private test to avoid waiting for an appointment to obtain a referral.
Remember that the price covers the blood draw and potassium measurement. It does not include a medical consultation or interpretation of the result, and a home blood draw costs extra.
What can falsely increase a potassium result?
A potassium result is most commonly falsely increased by haemolysis, which is the breakdown of blood cells in the test tube, as blood cells contain a large amount of potassium. Haemolysis can occur due to a difficult blood draw, leaving the tourniquet tight for too long, tightly clenching the fist or prolonged transport of the sample. This is why, before drawing conclusions, the laboratory or doctor will often ask for an unexpected result to be checked with a repeat test.
The laboratory prints its reference range next to the value on the result. Always discuss an out-of-range result with your doctor. Do not change your diet, supplements or medication based solely on a laboratory report.
How can you avoid overpaying for electrolyte tests?
- Compare collection points, because the same chain may charge different prices at different facilities.
- Buy the test from the laboratory’s online shop, where prices can be lower than at the counter.
- Ask about an electrolyte package instead of separate items when your doctor has ordered several tests.
- Combine tests in a single blood draw. If you are already having a full blood count or glucose test, add potassium to the same blood draw. We discuss glucose in the article fasting glucose test and iron in iron and ferritin tests: cost.
What you will not find in most comparisons is that we provide the median from several price lists, the typical range and the lowest and highest prices, with a dated source for every figure on the service page.
„Cena badania potasu waha się od 17,00 zł do 38,00 zł, w zależności od punktu pobrań.”
Synevo, 2025-09, source
„Cena oznaczenia potasu w prywatnym laboratorium zwykle mieści się w przedziale około 10–25 zł.”
Medicover, source
„Koszt oznaczenia stężenia tego pierwiastka w prywatnym ośrodku wynosi od 5 do 15 zł.”
apteline.pl, source
You can find more prices for laboratory tests and medical appointments in the health category.
The prices in this article come from public laboratory price lists and medical articles. Each one has a source, date and verbatim quotation on the service page. This article is not a substitute for medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a private potassium test cost?
Badanie potasu kosztuje prywatnie zwykle PLN 14 ‑ 23, mediana z cenników to PLN 18. Najtańsze punkty biorą od PLN 5.
Is a potassium test covered by the NFZ?
Tak, ze skierowaniem od lekarza rodzinnego albo specjalisty z umową z NFZ badanie potasu jest bezpłatne. Bez skierowania płaci się prywatnie, zwykle PLN 14 ‑ 23.
How much does a potassium test cost at ALAB or Diagnostyka?
Ceny w sieciach laboratoriów zależą od konkretnego punktu pobrań. W zebranych cennikach potas kosztuje od PLN 5 do PLN 38, aktualną cenę w wybranym punkcie najlepiej sprawdzić w sklepie internetowym sieci.
How long does it take to receive a potassium test result?
Wynik potasu laboratoria wydają zwykle tego samego albo następnego dnia roboczego, często online. Badanie kosztuje prywatnie około PLN 18.
Do you need a referral for a potassium test?
Prywatnie nie trzeba, badanie kupuje się w punkcie pobrań albo przez internet za około PLN 18. Skierowanie jest potrzebne tylko, żeby zrobić je bezpłatnie na NFZ.
Check prices with sources
Every amount quoted in the article has a source, date and verbatim quote from the price list on the service page.
Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.
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