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Test Name ABG Blood Gas Arterial

Additional Codes

Atlas

Test Code Test Name
AA Blood Gases, Arterial

 

Specimen Requirements

Preparation of Patient: 

Perform Allen Test and document in EHR

 

Container Type: 

Heparinized blood gas syringe or capillary tube

 

Specimen Type:

Arterial Whole Blood

 

Specimen Volume: 

.5 mL whole blood

 

Specimen Handling/Transport:

Specimen must arrive within 10 minutes of draw.  Remove sharp and transport ambient room temperature

 

Specimen Stability/Storage:

Analyze within 30 minutes

 

Specimen Rejection:

Specimen exposed to air is not acceptable.

 

Performing Laboratory

Munson Healthcare Laboratories

Priority, Frequency, & Turnaround

Priority

STAT, ASAP, Non-Emergent

 

Frequency

7 days/week 24 hours/day

 

Turnaround

40 minutes from receipt in lab

Methodology

Electrode

Includes pH, pCO2, pO2, O2 saturation calculated and Bicarbonate calculated.

Reporting

pH:

Reference Range:

7.34-7.44 pH units

 

Linearity Range:

6.80 – 7.80 pH units

 

Critical Decision (automatic call-back): 

Pediatric patients up to 21 years old:  ≤ 7.20 pH units or ≥ 7.50 pH units

Patients 21 years and older: ≤ 40 7.20 pH units or ≥ 7.60 pH units

 

pCO2

Reference Range:

32-44 mm/Hg

 

Linearity Range:

10-95  mmHg

 

Critical Decision: (automatic call-back):

Pediatric patients up to 21 years old: ≤ 30 mmHg or ≥ 70 mmHg

Patients 21 years and older:  ≤ 20 mmHg or ≥ 70 mmHg

 

pO2

Reference Range:

0-9 years: 92-108 mm/Hg

10-19 years: 91-107 mm/Hg

20-29 years: 87-103 mm/Hg

30-39 years: 83-99 mm/Hg

40-49 years: 79-95 mm/Hg

50-59 years: 74-90 mm/Hg

60-69 years: 70-86 mm/Hg

70-79 years: 66-82 mm/Hg

80-89 years: 62-78 mm/Hg

≥90 years: 54-74 mm/Hg

 

Linearity Range:

3 - 500 mmHg

 

Critical Decision: (automatic call-back):

Pediatric patients up to 21 years old: ≤ 40 mm/HG or ≥ 150 mmHg

Patients 21 years and older:  ≥ 40 mm/Hg

 

HCO3 Bicarbonate Calculated

Reference Range:

24-32 mmol/L

 

Linearity Range:

None

 

Critical Decision: (automatic call-back):

<12 mmol/L

 

Base Excess/Deficit Calculated

Reference Range:

-4 - 4 mmol/L 

 

Linearity Range:

None

 

Critical Decision: (automatic call-back):

None

 

sO2 Oxygen Saturation Calculated

Reference Range:

94‑100%

 

Linearity Range:

None

 

Critical Decision:(automatic call-back):

None

Clinical Significance

pH is the measurement of the acidity of the blood.  It is used in acid-base management

pCO2 measurement is done to help determine acid base status and respiratory function

pO2 measurement reflects the extent of oxygen exhange in the lungs

HCO3 Bicarbonate is used to monitor acid-base imbalance.

Base excess suggests the presence of metabolic alkalosis; base deficit suggests metabolic acidosis. Base excess gives, in mmol/L, the surplus of base or acid present in the blood or expressed in another way, base excess or deficit show directly how many mmolL of acid or base excess must be added to “normalize” the pH of the blood.  Positive values (base excess) indicate a relative deficit of non carbonic acids; negative values (base deficit) indicate a relative excess of non carbonic acids.

Oxygen saturation is a measurement of the oxygen binding of hemoglobin.  Measurement of oxygen saturation is helpful in predicting the amount of oxygen available for the tissues and is used to assess effectiveness of oxygen therapy.

CPT Code(s)

82803