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Blood Gases

Alternative Names:Arterial Blood Gases
Mixed Venous Gases
Gases; Blood
Laboratory:Clinical Biochemistry
Test Code:BG SPEC
Specimen Types:Blood
Container Types:
Arterial Blood Gas Syringe
Collection & Request Instructions:

Arterial blood collections must be performed ONLY by appropriately trained staff.

 

Note: Blood Gas specimens must be received by the laboratory within 20 minutes post collection or 1 hr if transported on an ice slurry.

 

Transport Instructions between Sites and/or Laboratories:On Ice
Send to lab immediately

SYRINGES WITH THE NEEDLE STILL ATTACHED WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!

Assay Frequency:Daily
Additional Notes:

Reference Intervals:

 

  Analyte Reference Interval (RI) Source  of RI
Arterial / Capillary Venous / Mixed Venous 
pH and Gas pH  7.35 - 7.45 7.30 - 7.43 AACB Recommendation for Harmonised reporting of ABG/VBG 2022
  pCO2 (mmHg) 35 - 45  38 - 58 AACB Recommendation for Harmonised reporting of ABG/VBG 2022
  pO2 (mmHg)  75 - 105 No RI AACB Recommendation for Harmonised reporting of ABG/VBG 2022
Electrolyte & Metabolite

Na+  (mmol/L)

 135 - 145 135 - 145 AACB Recommendation for Harmonised reporting of ABG/VBG 2022
  K+ (mmol/L) 3.5 - 5.2 3.5 - 5.2  AACB Recommendation for Harmonised reporting of ABG/VBG 2022
  Cl- (mmol/L) 95 - 110 95 - 110 AACB Recommendation for Harmonised reporting of ABG/VBG 2022
  Ca2+ and Ca2+ (7.4) (mmol/L) 1.11 - 1.28 1.11 - 1.28 Alfred Pathology Laboratory 2017
  Glucose (mmol/L) 3.5 - 7.7  3.5 - 7.7 Alfred Pathology Laboratory 2017
  Lactate (mmol/L) 0.4 - 2.0  0.4 - 2.0 AACB Recommendation for Harmonised reporting of ABG/VBG 2022
Co-Ox  tHb (g/L)

F: 113 - 159

M: 128 - 175

F: 113 - 159

M: 128 - 175 

 Alfred Pathology Laboratory 2017
  FCOHb (%) < 1.5 < 1.5 Alfred Pathology Laboratory 2017
  FMetHb (%) < 2.0 < 2.0 Alfred Pathology Laboratory 2017
Calculated HCO3- (mmol/L) 22 - 28 22 - 30 AACB Recommendation for Harmonised reporting of ABG/VBG 2022
  BE (mmol/L) -3 - +3 -2 - +5 AACB Recommendation for Harmonised reporting of ABG/VBG 2022
  sO2 (%) ≥ 96 ≥ 96 Alfred Pathology Laboratory 2017

Measured at 37°C; correction for patient temperature is not routinely performed.

Blood Gases performed on Siemens Rapidpoint 500