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Blood Gas, Venous (VBG), Blood*

Important Note

*This test is orderable in Cerner: Blood Gas Venous

Methodology

Ion-Selective Electrode (ISE)
Includes pH, pCO2, pO2, O2 saturation (SO2), base excess, and bicarbonate (HCO3).

Performing Laboratory

Rutland Regional Medical Center Laboratory

Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 30 minutes of draw.

 

Specimen Type: Whole blood-Clotted blood is not acceptable.
Container/Tube: Heparinized blood gas syringe

Specimen Volume: 2 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 1 mL
Collection Instructions:

1. Draw arterial blood anaerobically.

2. Expel air bubbles, remove needle from syringe and cap-Air bubble is not acceptable.

3. Immediately place syringe on wet ice.

 

Specimen Type: Whole blood-Clotted blood is not acceptable.
Container/Tube: Dark-green (lithium heparin) Vacutainer

Specimen Volume: 2 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Draw arterial blood anaerobically.

2. Expel air bubbles and cap-Air bubble is not acceptable.

3. Immediately place tube on wet ice.

Specimen Transport Temperature

On wet ice

Reference Values

pH

7.31-7.41

Critical values (automatic call-back): <7.2 or >7.6

 

pCO2

40-52 mm Hg

 

pO2

30-55 mm Hg

 

SO2 %

60%-80% saturation

 

BASE EXCESS

±3 mmol/L

 

HCO3

22-27 mEq/L

Critical value (automatic call-back): <15 mEq/L

 

Day(s) Performed

Daily

Analytical Time:

1 hour

Available STAT

Test Classification and CPT Coding

82803