Collect

1-3mL Heparinized Syringe (Lithium, Sodium, Calcium-titrated or electrolyte-balanced heparin). Remove needle and cap the syringe.

Unacceptable Conditions

Specimens older than 60 minutes (>60 minutes).
Specimen is clotted.
The specimen was collected using any of the following anticoagulants (Citrate, EDTA, oxalate or sodium fluoride).
Quantity not sufficient.
Specimen received with attached needle.
Specimen containing large air bubbles.
 

Stability (from collection to initiation)


Based on the clinical guideline CLSI C46 second edition it is recommended that plastic syringes should not be iced but kept at room temperature as long as the blood sample is analyzed within 30 minutes of collection. Keeping samples in ice water leads to an increase in pO2 and potassium. However, if a delay of more than 30 minutes is anticipated before analysis, storage using cold pack should be considered. Specimen transport directly on ice should be avoided, as this can cause the specimens to (partially) freeze and hemolyze. Finally, if the specimen for blood gas or ionized calcium is older than 60 minutes, the sample will be canceled as “Specimen too old for testing.”
 

Performed

Daily, 24 hour service

Notes

Central Lab, Payson 8

Collect

1-3mL Heparinized Syringe (Lithium, Sodium, Calcium-titrated or electrolyte-balanced heparin). Remove needle and cap the syringe.

Ordering Recommendations

Tests included in Blood Gas Venous + NA WB,  K WB, ICA WB, tHgb and Calc Hct:

pH, pCO2, pO2, Calculated HCO3, Calculated O2 Saturation, Calculated BEecf, Sodium Whole Blood, Potassium Whole Blood, Ionized Calcium Whole Blood, Total Hemoglobin and Calculated Hematocrit.

Performed

Daily, 24 hour service

Methodology

Potentiometric: pH, pCO2, NA, K and Ionized CA

Amperometric: pO2

Conductivity: HCT

Reported

15 Minutes

Synonyms

  • VBG+

Reference Interval

 
Test Reference Range Critical Values Units
pH 7.32 to 7.43 <= 7.20 or >= 7.60 pH scale
pCO2 41 to 55 (Male)
38 to 52 (Female)		 Undefined mmHg
pO2 25 to 40 Undefined mmHg
HCO3 22.0 to 29.0 Undefined mmol/L
NA 136 to 145 <= 120 or >= 160 mmol/L
K 3.5 to 5.1 <= 2.8 or >= 6.0 mmol/L
CAION 1.15 to 1.33 <= 0.75 or >= 1.75 mmol/L
HCT

Female: 37 to 47

Male: 40 to 50

 Not newborn: <=18 or >=65
Newborn, <=7 days of age: <=33 or >=74

 %
O2 SAT Undefined Undefined %
BEecf -2.0 to 3.0 Undefined mmol/L
tHgb Female: 11.7 to 16.1
Male: 12.6 to 17.4		 Not newborn: <=6.0 or >=22.0
Newborn, <=7 days of age: <=11.0 or >=25.0		 g/dL

CPT Codes

82803, 84132, 84295, 85014, 82330
Collection

Collect

1-3mL Heparinized Syringe (Lithium, Sodium, Calcium-titrated or electrolyte-balanced heparin). Remove needle and cap the syringe.

Unacceptable Conditions

Specimens older than 60 minutes (>60 minutes).
Specimen is clotted.
The specimen was collected using any of the following anticoagulants (Citrate, EDTA, oxalate or sodium fluoride).
Quantity not sufficient.
Specimen received with attached needle.
Specimen containing large air bubbles.
 

Stability (from collection to initiation)


Based on the clinical guideline CLSI C46 second edition it is recommended that plastic syringes should not be iced but kept at room temperature as long as the blood sample is analyzed within 30 minutes of collection. Keeping samples in ice water leads to an increase in pO2 and potassium. However, if a delay of more than 30 minutes is anticipated before analysis, storage using cold pack should be considered. Specimen transport directly on ice should be avoided, as this can cause the specimens to (partially) freeze and hemolyze. Finally, if the specimen for blood gas or ionized calcium is older than 60 minutes, the sample will be canceled as “Specimen too old for testing.”
 

Performed

Daily, 24 hour service

Notes

Central Lab, Payson 8

Container

Collect

1-3mL Heparinized Syringe (Lithium, Sodium, Calcium-titrated or electrolyte-balanced heparin). Remove needle and cap the syringe.
Ordering

Ordering Recommendations

Tests included in Blood Gas Venous + NA WB,  K WB, ICA WB, tHgb and Calc Hct:

pH, pCO2, pO2, Calculated HCO3, Calculated O2 Saturation, Calculated BEecf, Sodium Whole Blood, Potassium Whole Blood, Ionized Calcium Whole Blood, Total Hemoglobin and Calculated Hematocrit.

Performed

Daily, 24 hour service

Methodology

Potentiometric: pH, pCO2, NA, K and Ionized CA

Amperometric: pO2

Conductivity: HCT

Reported

15 Minutes

Synonyms

  • VBG+
Result Interpretation

Reference Interval

 
Test Reference Range Critical Values Units
pH 7.32 to 7.43 <= 7.20 or >= 7.60 pH scale
pCO2 41 to 55 (Male)
38 to 52 (Female)		 Undefined mmHg
pO2 25 to 40 Undefined mmHg
HCO3 22.0 to 29.0 Undefined mmol/L
NA 136 to 145 <= 120 or >= 160 mmol/L
K 3.5 to 5.1 <= 2.8 or >= 6.0 mmol/L
CAION 1.15 to 1.33 <= 0.75 or >= 1.75 mmol/L
HCT

Female: 37 to 47

Male: 40 to 50

 Not newborn: <=18 or >=65
Newborn, <=7 days of age: <=33 or >=74

 %
O2 SAT Undefined Undefined %
BEecf -2.0 to 3.0 Undefined mmol/L
tHgb Female: 11.7 to 16.1
Male: 12.6 to 17.4		 Not newborn: <=6.0 or >=22.0
Newborn, <=7 days of age: <=11.0 or >=25.0		 g/dL
Administrative

CPT Codes

82803, 84132, 84295, 85014, 82330

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