what can cause high potassium levels?
<answer> The most common cause of genuinely high potassium (hyperkalemia) is related to your kidneys, such as the ruptured cells leak their potassium into the sample. <context> Causes. Often, a report of high blood potassium isn't true hyperkalemia. Instead, it may be caused by the rupture of blood cells in the blood sample during or shortly after the blood draw. The ruptured cells leak their potassium into the sample.This falsely raises the amount of potassium in the blood sample, even though the potassium level in your body is actually normal.When this is suspected, a repeat blood sample is done. The most common cause of genuinely high potassium (hyperkalemia) is related to your kidneys, such as:he ruptured cells leak their potassium into the sample. This falsely raises the amount of potassium in the blood sample, even though the potassium level in your body is actually normal. When this is suspected, a repeat blood sample is done.