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Test Code ARTGASLYTES Blood Gas, Arterial, w/ Lytes

Important Note

Remove the needle and cap the syringe, expel any air, and cap with the provided tip cap. 

Do NOT place the sample on ice as this will increased the potassium values and affect the O2 levels.

Do NOT uncap the sample at any time. 

Deliver to the lab immediately.

Specimen Information

Container Specimen Storage Stability
Heparinized Syringe Whole Blood Ambient 30 minutes

After collection, firmly attach the cap (Filter-Pro) onto the syringe, While holding the luer end up, tap the syringe to move any air bubbles to the top. To remove the air, SLOWLY press the plunger and continue to advance until the sample wets the filter.

 

Reject Due To:

- Specimens received with needles attached

- Evidence of clotting or hemolysis

- Specimens collected in vacutainer tubes

- Specimens with excessive air bubbles

- Specimens received greater than 30 minutes after collection

- Non-heparinized samples

- Other sample types such as urine, CSF, pleural fluid

- Evidence of anticoagulant or IV contamination

- Unlabeled/Mislabeled specimens

- Specimens received on ice / cold packs

 

Instrumentation / Method

pH - iSTAT / Ion Selective Electrode Potentiometry at 37 C

pO2 - iSTAT / Amperometrically

pCO2 - iSTAT / Direct Potentiometry at 37 C

HCO3 - iSTAT / Calculated from pH and pCO2 results

NA - iSTAT / Ion Selective Electrode Potentiometry

K - iSTAT / Ion Selective Electrode Potentiometry

HCT - iSTAT / Conductivity after correction for electrolye concentration

 

Test Schedule / Analytical Time / Test Priority

Daily / Immediate / Available STAT

Reference Range

Analyte Age Reference Range Critical Low Critical High
pH 0 - 1 days 7.26 - 7.49 < 7.25 > 7.55
1 - 7 days 7.29 - 7.45
> 7 days 7.35 - 7.45
pO2 0 - 7 days 54 - 95 mmHg < 50 > 300
> 7 days 80 - 105 mmHg
pCO2 0 - 7 days 27 - 41 mmHg < 25 > 55
> 7 days 35 - 45 mmHg
HCO3 ALL 22 - 26 mmol/L N/A N/A
BE/BD ALL N/A N/A N/A
NA N/A 135 - 145 mmol/L <120* >155*
K N/A 3.5 - 5.0 mmol/L <3.0* >6.2*
HCT ≥ 12 years 38% - 51% <20 >67

* Whole blood Sodium and Potassium values should not be used interchangeably with serum or plasma results.

LOINC / CPT/ Ordering

Analyte CPT LOINC
ARTGASLYTES 82803  
pH, Arterial   2744-1
pO2, Arterial   2703-7
pCO2, Arterial   2019-8
HCO3, Arterial   1960-4
BE / BD, Arterial   19235-1
NA, Arterial 84295 32717-1
K, Arterial 84132 32713-0
HCT, Arterial 85014 32354-3