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Blood Gas, Venous Temperature Corrected

Includes:  pH, pCO2, pO2, Bicarbonate, Base Balance, O2 Saturation(measured)

Specimen Type = blood syringe

Specimen Type

Test ID LAB5300
EPIC Order BLOOD GAS, VENOUS, TEMPERATURE CORRECTED
CPT Code(s) 82805
Group/Individual Test Group
Laboratory Core Laboratory-Blood Gas
Tube Station 31
Specimen Routine: 1.5 mL whole blood in 3cc syringe w/lyophilized heparin in BG Kit or SafePICO Collection Kit.
PLEASE SPECIFY: source; See important COMMENTS
Micro: 0.5 mL whole blood in syringe w/lyophilized heparin in BG Kit; PLEASE SPECIFY: source; See important COMMENTS
Stability
Room Temp/Refrigerated - 30 mins
Frozen - NO
Availability Routine: 24 Hours/Day
STAT: YES
Turnaround Time 10 minutes
Reference Range Normal: See Table Below
Critical: See Table Below
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

  Reference Range Critical Range
pH 7.32-7.43 <7.20 or >7.65
pCO2 40-60 mmHg <20 or >65 mmHg
pO2 30-55 mmHg (at Room Air)  <40 mmHg (arterial)
HCO3 22-27 mmol/L  NA
Base Bal ±2 mmol/L  NA
O2 Sat 40-85%  <75%

Reviewed by J. Carr on February 03, 2026

UNC Hospitals
McLendon Clinical Laboratories
101 Manning Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514