Does slight hemolysis affect creatine kinase (CK) measurement?

Slight hemolysis does not significantly affect creatine kinase (CK) measurement. CK is an enzyme primarily found in muscle tissue, and while it can be released into the bloodstream when muscle injury occurs, its measurement is not highly sensitive to minimal hemolysis. Standard laboratory practices generally affirm that slight hemolysis has a negligible impact on the results of CK tests because CK levels can remain reliable and accurate despite mild hemolytic interference.

In cases of severe hemolysis, however, there might be more pronounced effects due to the release of cellular contents into the sample, which could potentially influence CK levels. Thus, while hemolysis can impact a range of laboratory test results, particularly in other enzymes or metabolites, the effects on CK measurement are minimal when only slight hemolysis is present.