Arterial blood gas
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
An arterial blood gas (also called "ABG'S") is a blood test that is performed specifically on arterial blood, to determine the concentrations of carbon dioxide, oxygen and bicarbonate, as well as the pH of the blood. Its main use is in pulmonology, to determine gas exchange levels in the blood related to lung function, but it is also used in nephrology, and used to evaluate metabolic disorders such as acidosis and alkalosis. As its name implies, the sample is taken from an artery, which is more uncomfortable and difficult than venipuncture.
Extraction and Analysis
- Arterial blood for blood gas analysis is usually extracted by a phlebotomist, nurse, or respiratory therapist.[1]
- Blood may be taken from an easily accessible artery (typically the radial artery, but during unusual or emergency situations the brachial or femoral artery may be used), or out of an arterial line.
- The syringe is pre-packaged and contains a small amount of heparin, to prevent coagulation or needs to be heparinised, by drawing up a small amount of heparin and squirting it out again.
- Once the sample is obtained, care is taken to eliminate visible gas bubbles, as these bubbles can dissolve into the sample and cause inaccurate results.
- The sealed syringe is taken to a blood gas analyzer.
- If the sample cannot be immediately analyzed, it is chilled in an ice bath in a glass syringe to slow metabolic processes which can cause inaccuracy.
- Samples drawn in plastic syringes should not be iced and should always be analyzed within 30 minutes.[2]
- The machine used for analysis aspirates this blood from the syringe and measures the pH and the partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The bicarbonate concentration is also calculated. These results are usually available for interpretion within five minutes.
- Standard blood tests can also be performed on arterial blood, such as measuring glucose, lactate, hemoglobins, dys-haemoglobins, bilirubin and electrolytes.
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Reference ranges and interpretation
These are typical reference ranges, although various analysers and laboratories may employ different ranges.
| Analyte | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.35 - 7.45 | The pH or H+ indicates if a patient is acidemic (pH < 7.35; H+ >45) or alkalemic (pH > 7.45; H+ < 35). |
| H+ | 35 - 45 nmol/l (nM) | See above. |
| pO2 | 9.3-13.3 kPa or 80-100 mmHg | Normal pO2 is 70-100 mmHg (age-dependent). |
| pCO2 | 4.7-6.0 kPa or 35-45 mmHg | The carbon dioxide and partial pressure (PCO2) indicates a respiratory problem: for a constant metabolic rate, the PCO2 is determined entirely by ventilation.[3] A high PCO2 (respiratory acidosis) indicates underventilation, a low PCO2 (respiratory alkalosis) hyper- or overventilation. |
| HCO3- | 22 - 26 mmol/l | The HCO3- ion indicates whether a metabolic problem is present (such as ketoacidosis). A low HCO3- indicates metabolic acidosis, a high HCO3- indicates metabolic alkalosis. |
| SBCe | 21 to 27 mM | the bicarbonate concentration in the blood at a CO2 of 5.33kPa, full oxygen saturation and 37 degrees Celcius.[4] |
| Base excess | -2 to +2 mmol/l | The base excess indicates whether the patient is acidotic or alkalotic. A negative base excess indicates that the patient is acidotic. A high positive base excess indicates that the patient is alkalotic. |
| HPO42− | 0.8 to 1.5 [5] mM | |
| total CO2 (tCO2 (P)c) | 25 to 30 mM | This is the total amount of CO2, and is the sum of HCO3- and pCO2 by the formula: tCO2 = [HCO3-] + α*pCO2, where α=0.226 mM/kPa, HCO3- is expressed in molars (M) and pCO2 is expressed in kPa [6] |
| total O2 (tO2e) | This is the sum of oxygen solved in plasma and chemically bound to hemoglobin. [7] |
| Oxygen Partial Pressure (pO2) | |
| Arterial pO2 | 70-100 mm Hg |
| Venous pO2 | 35-40 mmHg |
| Oxygen Saturation (SO2) | |
| Arterial SO2 | < 95% |
| Venous SO2 | 70-75% |
| Carbon Dioxide Partial Pressure (pCO2) | |
| Arterial pCO2 | 35-45 mmHg |
| Venous pCO2 | 40-50 mmHg |
| Serum Bicarbonate (HCO3) | |
| Arterial HCO3 | 20-27 mmol/l |
| Venous HCO3 | 19-28 mmol/l |
| pH | |
| Arterial pH | 7.35-7.45 |
| Venous pH | 7.26-7.46 |
| Base Excess (BE) | |
| Arterial BE | -3.4 - +2.3 mmol/l |
| Venous BE | -2 - -5 mmol/l |
References
- ↑ Aaron SD, Vandemheen KL, Naftel SA, Lewis MJ, Rodger MA (2003). "Topical tetracaine prior to arterial puncture: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial". Respir Med. 97 (11): 1195–1199. PMID 14635973.
- ↑ Mahoney JJ, Harvey JA, Wong RL, Van Kessel AL (1991). "Changes in oxygen measurements when whole blood is stored in iced plastic or glass syringes". Clin Chem. 37 (7): 1244–1248. PMID 1823532.
- ↑ Baillie K, Simpson A. "Altitude oxygen calculator". Apex (Altitude Physiology Expeditions). Retrieved 2006-08-10. - Online interactive oxygen delivery calculator
- ↑ Acid Base Balance (page 3)
- ↑ Walter F., PhD. Boron. Medical Physiology: A Cellular And Molecular Approaoch. Elsevier/Saunders. ISBN 1-4160-2328-3. Page 849
- ↑ CO2: The Test
- ↑ Hemoglobin and Oxygen Transport. Charles L. Webber, Jr., Ph.D.