Carefusion 9425TRU - Arterial Blood Gas Samplers Micro 100/CS
Arterial Blood Gas Samplers, Micro, 100/CS
An arterial blood gas (ABG) test 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.
Blood for an ABG 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.
Why Arterial blood gas (ABG)?
Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis is an essential part of diagnosing and managing a patients oxygenation status and acidbase balance. The usefulness of this diagnostic tool is dependent on being able to correctly interpret the results. Disorders of acidbase balance can create complications in many disease states, and occasionally the abnormality may be so severe so as to become a life-threatening risk factor. A thorough understanding of acidbase balance is mandatory for any physician, and intensivist, and the anesthesiologist is no exception.
The three widely used approaches to acid-base physiology are:
Partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2).
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.
Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2).
This measures the pressure of carbon dioxide dissolved in the blood and how well carbon dioxide is able to move out of the body.
pH.
The pH measures hydrogen ions (H+) in blood. The pH of blood is usually between 7.35 and 7.45. A 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.
Bicarbonate (HCO3).
Bicarbonate is a chemical (buffer) that keeps the pH of blood from becoming too acidic or too basic.Oxygen content (O2CT) and oxygen saturation (O2Sat) values. O2 content measures the amount of oxygen in the blood.
Oxygen content (O2CT) and oxygen saturation (O2Sat) values.
O2 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 (O2).
Why is it Necessary to Order an ABG Analysis?
The utilization of an ABG analysis becomes necessary in view of the following advantages:
- Aids in establishing diagnosis.
- Guides treatment plan.
- Aids in ventilator management.
- Improvement in acid/base management; allows for optimal function of medications.
- Acid/base status may alter electrolyte levels critical to a patients status.
Accurate results for an ABG depend on the proper manner of collecting, handling, and analyzing the specimen. Clinically important errors may occur at any of the above steps, but ABG measurements are particularly vulnerable to preanalytic errors. The most common problems that are encountered include nonarterial samples, air bubbles in the sample, inadequate or excessive anticoagulant in the sample, and delayed analysis of a noncooled sample.
