Test Code ABG Blood Gas, Arterial
Methodology
Dry Chemistry, Optical Technology
Note: This test is only available for Aspen Valley Hospital (AVH) emergency room patients, inpatients, and outpatients.
Performing Laboratory
Aspen Valley Hospital
Specimen Requirements
Specimen must be tested within 30 minutes of draw.
Container/Tube: Heparinized syringe
Specimen: 0.5 mL arterial whole blood
Collection Instructions: If there is a delay in transport, store specimen horizontally in ice water.
Specimen Transport Temperature
Ambient
Reference Values
pH
7.35-7.45
Critical values (automatic call-back): <7.25 or >7.55
pCO2
36-39 mm Hg
Critical values (automatic call-back): <20 mm Hg or >50 mm Hg
pO2
60-70 mm Hg
Critical value (automatic call-back): <45 mm Hg
Note: pO2 reference range is for patients on room air at 8,000 feet altitude, the altitude at AVH.
HCO3
22-26 mm Hg
BASE EXCESS
-2.0-+2.0 mmol/L
O2 SATURATION
92-96%
O2 CONTENT
15.0-23.0 volume%
Day(s) Test Set Up
Monday through Sunday
Test Classification and CPT Coding
82803