Arterial Blood Gas Test Definition
Blood is drawn anaerobically from a peripheral artery (Radial, Brachial, Ulnar, Femoral, Axillary, Posterior Tibial or Dorsalis Pedis) via a single percutaneous needle puncture, or from an indwelling arterial cannula or catheter for multiple sample.
Either method provides a blood specimen for direct measurement of:
- partial pressures of carbon dioxide (PaCO2);
- oxygen (PaO2);
- hydrogen ion activity (pH);
- total hemoglobin (Hbtotal);
- oxyhemoglobin saturation (HbO2);
- dyshemoglobins carboxyhemoglobin (COHb);
- methemoglobin (MetHb).
