Sevastos N et al. - Pseudohyperkalemia in serum seems to be the result of two independent and sequential mechanisms: degranulation of platelets, which offers a potassium load to the surrounding serum at the time of clot formation in vitro, and transfer of a part of this potassium load back into blood cells in order to maintain electrolyte and osmotic homeostasis. The net result is that a significant amount of potassium remains in serum giving rise to the phenomenon of pseudohyperkalemia.
