Blood Gas, Arterial Temperature Corrected

0.5 mL whole blood in 1cc syringe w/ lyophilized heparin in BG Kit or full heparinized capillary tube. PLEASE SPECIFY: source. See Comments.

• Blood collection tubes are not acceptable.
• Deliver Immediately to Blood Gas lab. The time between specimen collection and analysis should not exceed 30 minutes.
• Indicate patient temperature when ordering. To be used when patient temperature is <35.0 degrees Celsius or > 39.0 degrees Celsius and on ice if >30 minutes.
• Syringes with needles attached will NOT be accepted.
• Blood Gas syringes may be obtained from Central Distribution.
• Heparinized, anaerobic technique. Heparinized capillary samples can be analyzed if at least 200 µL of clot-free blood is present.
• If temperature correction is not required, order test LAB76(Blood Gas, Arterial).

Oxygen Saturation is a measure of the fraction of oxygenated hemoglobin in relation to the amount of hemoglobin capable of transporting oxygen. Oxygen Saturation can be clinically misleading in the presence of dyshemoglobins such as carboxyhemoglobin and methemoglobin. This is because the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood will be decreased but the saturation will often remain within reference limits.

Reflex testing for Carboxyhemoglobin (CPT 82375) and Methemoglobin (CPT 83050) will automatically be performed if 02 gap is > 10.0