Sample type: Whole Blood
Test name: Blood Gases a.k.a. ABG, arterial blood gas
Condition / Indication: Acid / Base
Special precautions & notes: Expel any entrapped air bubbles and mix sample thoroughly by 5 complete inversions and rolling between the palms. Label the sample with patient details. Analyse on ward equipment without delay (see the POCT page for locations of GEM® Premier 5000 blood gas analysers).
Reference range: Arterial whole blood analysed on GEM® Premier 5000 blood gas analyser: pH: 7.35 – 7.45, pCO2: 4.6 – 6.4 kPa, pO2: 11.0 – 14.4 kPa, Na+: 133 – 146 mmol/L, K+: 3.5 – 5.3 mmol/L, Cl-: 95 -108 mmol/L, Ca++: 1.15 – 1.33 mmol/L, Glucose: 3.6 – 5.3 mmol/L, Lactate: 0.5 – 2.2 mmol/L (At rest), tHb: 120 – 170 g/L, O2Hb: 95 – 98%, COHb: <3.0% (Non-smoker), MetHb: 0 - 1.5%, HHb: 2 - 6%, sO2: 94 – 98%.
Container: Heparinised blood gas syringe
Ideal volume (mL): see notes
Referred outside NBT for analysis? No
Discipline: Clinical Biochemistry
Section: Point of Care Testing
Turnaround time: n/a