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Test Code LAB79 Blood Gases, Venous

Useful For

Evaluating respiratory function

Methodology

Potentiometric Sensors (pCO2, pH, Ca++)

Amperometric Sensors (pO2)

Spectrophotometry (O2Hb, COHb, MetHb, sO2) 

Profile Information

Testing includes:

  • pH
  • pCO2
  • pO2
  • HCO3
  • CO2 Content
  • Base Excess
  • O2 Saturation %
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Methemoglobin
  • O2 Content

Performing Laboratory

Bozeman Health Laboratory Services

Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 30 minutes of draw.

 

Specimen Type: Venous whole blood

Container/Tube: Dark green top without gel (sodium heparin, preferred) or light green top (lithium heparin)

Specimen Volume: 3 mL

Collection Instructions:

  1. Avoid exposure of specimen to atmosphere by keeping specimen capped in original container.  Do not centrifuge. 
  2. Place a piece of tape over the cap to alert specimen processing not to spin specimen.
  3. Forward promptly.

Additional Information

Sodium heparin (dark green top) is the preferred specimen.  Testing can be performed on unspun lithium heparin tubes (light green top) when blood is difficult to obtain (pediatric patients).  Place tape over the cap and call the laboratory when sending light green tubes for this test. 

Specimen Transport Temperature

Ambient <30 minutes

Specimen Stability

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole blood Ambient 30 minutes

Reference Values

 

Component   Age Break Normal Range
pH   0-1 days 7.33-7.49
    1-2 days 7.25-7.43
    ≥ 2 days 7.33-7.45
pCO2    

35-50 mmHg
pO2     30-50 mmHg
HCO3     23.0-27.0 meq/L
CO2 Content     24-28 meq/L
Base Excess     -2-2 meq/L
O2 Saturation %     60%-85%
Carbon Monoxide     0.3%-2.0% THgb
  Smokers 1-2 packs/day 4.0%-5.0% THgb
    >2 packs/day 8.0%-9.0% THgb
  Toxic   >20% THgb
  Lethal   >50% THgb
Methemoglobin     0.0%-1.5% THgb
O2 Content     15.0-23.0 mmol/L

Critical value (automatic call-back):

pH: <7.20, >7.60

Carbon Monoxide: >15.0%

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday

Test Classification and CPT Coding

82803-Blood gases, any combination of pH, pCO2, pO2, CO2, HCO3 (including measured oxygen saturation)