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Test Code VBG Venous Blood Gas

Methodology

Electrode

Includes pH, pO2, pCO2, tCO2, and sO2 calculated.

Performing Laboratory

Munson Healthcare Laboratories

Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 10 minutes of draw.

 

Container/Tube: Heparinized blood gas syringe or capillary tube.  Specimen exposed to air is not acceptable.

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL of whole blood from heparinized syringe or 0.1 mL of whole blood from blood gas capillary tube

Transport Temperature: Ambient

Collection Instructions: Forward immediately. Specimen must be analyzed within 30 minutes of draw.

Reference Values

< 2 months pH:  7.22-7.49 pH units

> 2 months pH: 7.32-7.42 pH units

Critical values (automatic call-back): 

< 2 months: <7.22 pH units or >7.49 pH units

> 2 months: <7.20 pH units or >7.60 pH units

 

< 2 months pCO2: 35-60 mm/Hg

> 2 months pCO2:  41-51 mm/Hg

Critical values (automatic call-back): <20 mm/Hg or >70 mm/Hg

 

< 2 months pO2:  35-50 mm/Hg

>2 months pO2:  25-40 mm/Hg

Critical value (automatic call-back):

<2 months pO2 : < 30 mm/HG

2 months - ≥90 years: <40 mm/Hg

 

HCO3:  22-32

 

Venous O2 saturation:  > 2 months 45-70 % ( no reference range for < 2 months)

 

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday

Test Classification and CPT Coding

82803