Test Code ABGCO Blood Gas, Arterial with Carbon Monoxide
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: Dark green-top (sodium heparin) tube(s)
Specimen: 0.5 mL (minimum volume: 0.09 mL) of arterial whole blood
Transport Temperature: Ambient
Collection Instructions: If there is a delay in transport, store specimen horizontally in ice water.
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%
CARBON MONOXIDE
Non-smokers: <1.5% of tHgb
Smokers: 1.5-5.0% of tHgb
Heavy smoker: 5.0-9.0% of tHgb
Methemoglobin: <2.0% of tHgb
Critical value (automatic call-back): >11.9% of tHgb
Day(s) Test Set Up
Monday through Sunday
Test Classification and CPT Coding
82375-Carboxyhemoglobin; quantitative
82803-Gases, blood, any combination of pH, pCO2, pO2, CO2, HCO3 (including calculated O2 saturation)