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22261 Blood Gases, Arterial

Blood Gases, Arterial
Test Code: ABG
Synonyms/Keywords
Art.Blood Gas, ABG, PCO2, PO2​
Test Components
Panel includes Blood Gas (pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide pCO2, partial pressure of oxygen pO2, bicarbonate HCO3, base excess BE, O2 Saturation)​
Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)
Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
No​ Whole Blood​ Balanced Heparin Syringe​ 1 mL​ 0.4 mL​ 140 uL in a 1 CC Syringe​
Collection Processing Instructions

Draw blood without tourniquet and fist clenching. If a tourniquet must be used, do not release it during the collection. DO NOT introduce air into the syringe. Syringe must be filled to usual draw volume. Ice pack cooling is not required if the sample is analyzed within 30 minutes. If blood gas analysis will not be performed within 30 minutes after specimen collection, transport
sample in a cold pack or prepare a container with ice water capable of maintaining refrigerated temperatures and large enough for immersion of the barrel of the capped/sealed syringe.

Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood​ ​ Ambient​ 30 min​
On Cold Pack​ 45 min​
Rejection Criteria
Other anticoagulants such as EDTA, citrate, oxalate, and fluoride
Performing Laboratory Information

Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
​Beaver Dam
​Monday through Sunday​Less than 2 hours
​Gem 5000
​​Weston​
​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Radiometer
Eau Claire​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Gem 4000
​Park Falls​
​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Gem 4000
Ladysmith Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours ​Gem 4000
MMC-Rice Lake ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​​ ​​Gem 4000
Marshfield​ Monday through Sunday​ Less than 2 hours​ Gem 4000 ​
​Minocqua Monday through Sunday​​ Less than 2 hours​​ ​​​Gem 4000
Neillsville ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​​​Gem 4000
Test Information
Oxygen saturation results generated in satellite laboratories (CCU, ICU, PICU) by Respiratory Therapy staff or using I-Stat instruments are calculated from PO2. Oxygen-saturation results in the lab at Marshfield are obtained by CO-Oximetry and reported as Percent Fractional Oxyhemoglobin (FHbO2) which includes the contribution of any dys-hemoglobins (carboxy-, met-). Accordingly, when dys-hemoglobins are present, (Lab) FHbO2 results may differ significantly from O2 saturation (SO2) obtained by calulation or using pulse oximetry.​
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
All Performing Sites
pH:  
 <=1 day: 7.29-7.45 
 >=2 days: 7.35-7.45
 
pCO2: 
 <=2 years: 27 - 41 mm Hg
 >=3 years: 35 - 45 mm Hg
 
pO2: 
 <=1 day: 54 - 95 mm Hg
 2 days - <70 years: 80 - 105 mm Hg
 70 years – 79 years: 70 - 90 mm Hg
 80 years – 89 years: 60 - 85 mm Hg
 >=90 years: 50 - 80 mm Hg
 
Calculated HCO3:  
 <=2 years: 17 - 24 mmol/L 
 >=3 years: 22 - 28 mmol/L
 
Base Excess: 
 <=2 years: -8.0 to 0.0 mmol/L 
 >=3 years: -3.0 to 3.0 mmol/L
 
Oxygen Saturation: 
 All Ages: 94 – 99% ​

See Critical Value List for list of current critical values

Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)
Quantity Description Comments
82803​ Gases, blood ​
Synonyms/Keywords
Art.Blood Gas, ABG, PCO2, PO2​
Test Components
Panel includes Blood Gas (pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide pCO2, partial pressure of oxygen pO2, bicarbonate HCO3, base excess BE, O2 Saturation)​
Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Description
​Cerner ​Blood Gas Arterial
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)
Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
No​ Whole Blood​ Balanced Heparin Syringe​ 1 mL​ 0.4 mL​ 140 uL in a 1 CC Syringe​
Collection Processing

Draw blood without tourniquet and fist clenching. If a tourniquet must be used, do not release it during the collection. DO NOT introduce air into the syringe. Syringe must be filled to usual draw volume. Ice pack cooling is not required if the sample is analyzed within 30 minutes. If blood gas analysis will not be performed within 30 minutes after specimen collection, transport
sample in a cold pack or prepare a container with ice water capable of maintaining refrigerated temperatures and large enough for immersion of the barrel of the capped/sealed syringe.

Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood​ ​ Ambient​ 30 min​
On Cold Pack​ 45 min​
Rejection Criteria
Other anticoagulants such as EDTA, citrate, oxalate, and fluoride
Test Components
Panel includes Blood Gas (pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide pCO2, partial pressure of oxygen pO2, bicarbonate HCO3, base excess BE, O2 Saturation)​
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
All Performing Sites
pH:  
 <=1 day: 7.29-7.45 
 >=2 days: 7.35-7.45
 
pCO2: 
 <=2 years: 27 - 41 mm Hg
 >=3 years: 35 - 45 mm Hg
 
pO2: 
 <=1 day: 54 - 95 mm Hg
 2 days - <70 years: 80 - 105 mm Hg
 70 years – 79 years: 70 - 90 mm Hg
 80 years – 89 years: 60 - 85 mm Hg
 >=90 years: 50 - 80 mm Hg
 
Calculated HCO3:  
 <=2 years: 17 - 24 mmol/L 
 >=3 years: 22 - 28 mmol/L
 
Base Excess: 
 <=2 years: -8.0 to 0.0 mmol/L 
 >=3 years: -3.0 to 3.0 mmol/L
 
Oxygen Saturation: 
 All Ages: 94 – 99% ​

See Critical Value List for list of current critical values

For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information

Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
​Beaver Dam
​Monday through Sunday​Less than 2 hours
​Gem 5000
​​Weston​
​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Radiometer
Eau Claire​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Gem 4000
​Park Falls​
​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Gem 4000
Ladysmith Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours ​Gem 4000
MMC-Rice Lake ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​​ ​​Gem 4000
Marshfield​ Monday through Sunday​ Less than 2 hours​ Gem 4000 ​
​Minocqua Monday through Sunday​​ Less than 2 hours​​ ​​​Gem 4000
Neillsville ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​​​Gem 4000
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)
Quantity Description Comments
82803​ Gases, blood ​
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.