m measures the acidity (pH) and the levels

of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the

blood from an artery. This test is used to
check how well your lungs are able to
move oxygen into the blood and
remove carbon dioxide from the blood.
m @s blood passes through your lungs,
oxygen moves into the blood while
carbon dioxide moves out of the blood
into the lungs. @n @
test uses blood
drawn from an artery, where the oxygen
and carbon dioxide levels can be
measured before they enter body
tissues.
@
@
 

m   
  


 This

measures the pressure of oxygen dissolved
in the blood and how well oxygen is able to
move from the airspace of the lungs into
the blood.
m   
  

 
  

 This measures how much carbon
dioxide is dissolved in the blood and how
well carbon dioxide is able to move out of
the body.
m  The pH measures hydrogen ions (H+) in
blood. The pH of blood is usually between
7.35 and 7.45. @ pH of less than 7.0 is called
acid and a pH greater than 7.0 is called
basic (alkaline). So blood is slightly basic.
m      icarbonate is a
chemical (buffer) that keeps the pH of
blood from becoming too acidic or too
basic.
m 
  
 
 


  
!
" O content
measures the amount of oxygen in the
blood. Oxygen saturation measures how
much of the hemoglobin in the red
blood cells is carrying oxygen (O ).
m lood for an @
test is taken from an
artery. Most other blood tests are done
on a sample of blood taken from a vein,
after the blood has already passed
through the body's tissues where the
oxygen is used up and carbon dioxide is
produced.
@n arterial blood gas (@
) test is done to:
m Check for severe breathing problems and lung
diseases, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, or chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (CO
).
m See how well treatment for lung diseases is working.
m Find out if you need extra oxygen or help with
breathing (mechanical ventilation).
m Find out if you are receiving the right amount of
oxygen when you are using oxygen in the hospital.
m Measure the acid-base level in the blood of people
who have heart failure, kidney failure,
uncontrolled diabetes, sleep disorders, severe
infections, or after a drug overdose.
@sk the patient if he/she
m Have had bleeding problems or take blood thinners,
such as aspirin or warfarin(Coumadin).
m is taking any medicines.
m is allergic to any medicines, such as those used to
numb the skin(anesthetics).
If the patient is on oxygen therapy, the oxygen may be
turned off for 0 minutes before the blood test. This is
called a "room air" test. If he/she cannot breathe
without the oxygen, the oxygen will not be turned off.
.
m @ sample of blood from an artery is
usually taken from the inside of the wrist
(radial artery), but it can also be
collected from an artery in the groin
(femoral artery) or on the inside of the
arm above the elbow crease (brachial
artery). You will be seated with your arm
extended and your wrist resting on a
small pillow. The health professional
drawing the blood may rotate your hand
back and forth and feel for a pulse in
your wrist.
m To prevent the possibility of damaging
the artery of the wrist when the blood
sample is taken, a procedure called
the @llen test may be done to ensure
that blood flow to your hand is normal.
@n arterial blood gas (@
) test will not
be done on an arm used for dialysis or if
there is an infection or inflammation in
the area of the puncture site.
m Clean the needle site with alcohol. You may
be given an injection of local anesthetic to
numb that area.
m
ut the needle into the artery. More than one
needle stick may be needed.
m @llow the blood to fill the syringe. e sure to
breathe normally while your blood is being
collected.
m
ut a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle
site as the needle is removed.
m
ut a bandage over the puncture site and
apply firm pressure for 5 to 10 minutes (possibly
longer if you take blood-thinning medicine or
have bleeding problems).
m Collecting blood from an artery is more painful
than collecting it from a vein because the arteries
are deeper and are protected by nerves.
m Most people feel a brief, sharp pain as the needle
to collect the blood sample enters the artery. If you
are given a local anesthetic, you may feel nothing
at all from the needle puncture, or you may feel a
brief sting or pinch as the needle goes through the
skin.
m You may feel more pain if the person drawing your
blood has a hard time finding your artery, your
artery is narrowed, or if you are very sensitive to
pain.
m There is little chance of a problem from
having blood sample taken from an artery.
m You may get a small bruise at the site. You
can lower the chance of bruising by
keeping pressure on the site for at least 10
minutes after the needle is removed (longer
if you have bleeding problems or take
blood thinners).
m You may feel lightheaded, faint, dizzy, or
nauseated while the blood is being drawn
from your artery.
m Ongoing bleeding can be a problem for
people with bleeding disorders. @spirin,
warfarin (Coumadin), and other blood-
thinning medicines can make bleeding more
likely. If you have bleeding or clotting
problems, or if you take blood-thinning
medicine, tell your doctor before your blood
sample is taken.
m On rare occasions, the needle may damage
a nerve or the artery, causing the artery to
become blocked.
m Though problems are rare, be careful with
the arm or leg that had the blood draw. o
not lift or carry objects for about 4 hours
after you have had blood drawn from an
artery
 Normal Values
  @  
 # 
$ 
pH 7.35-7.45 7.33-7.41

aCO 35-45 mm Hg 41-51 mm Hg

o 0-100 mm Hg 35-40 mm Hg
HCO3 -  mEq/L -  mEq/L
ase Excess/ deficit + mEq/L + mEq/L
Oxygen Saturation >94% 75%

%&!'( !
@rterial blood gas (@
) test measures the acidity (pH) and levels of
oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.

The concentration of oxygen being breathed, called the fraction of

inhaled oxygen (FiO ), is also usually reported. This is only useful if
you are receiving oxygen therapy from a tank or are on a ventilator.
¦   )  
&" 
‰espiratory @cidosis pH, or normal HCO3,
aCO3
‰espiratory @lkalosis pH, or normal HCO3,
aCO3
Metabolic @cidosis pH, HCO3, or normal
aCO3
Metabolic @lkalosis pH, HCO3, or normal
aCO3
 
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m iabetes.
m rug or alcohol overdose.
m Kidney failure.
m Lung diseases, such as chronic lung disease,
a blood clot in the lungs, or pneumonia.
m Severe dehydration from severe
burns, vomiting, diarrhea, or taking water
pills (diuretics).
m Severe infection (sepsis).
m ‰easons you may not be able to have the test
or why the results may not be helpful include
the following:
m You have a fever or an abnormally low body
temperature (hypothermia).
m You have a disease that affects how much
oxygen is carried in your blood, such as
severe anemia or polycythemia.
m You smoke just before the test or
breathe secondhand smoke, carbon
monoxide, or certain paint or varnish removers
in closed or poorly ventilated areas.
m
CO  4 alkaline
m HCO3  acid
m pH 7.45 alkaline 7.4
m ‰espiratory @lkalosis, Fully Compensated