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HelpTest Code ABG Blood Gases, Arterial Blood
Performing Laboratory
Decatur Morgan Hospital-Decatur Campus/Parkway Campus
Specimen Requirements
Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of draw.
Draw 2 mL (pediatric: 0.5 mL) of arterial blood using a
syringe rinsed with heparin (Blood Gas Collection Kit). Specimen
should be drawn free of air. Syringe should be immediately corked,
mixed well, and placed on wet ice after drawing. Forward blood
immediately to respiratory therapy.
Note: Do not remove cork before testing.
Reference Values
pH (98.6)
7.35-7.45
Critical values (automatic call-back): <7.20 or
>7.55
PCO2 (98.6)
35-45 mm Hg
Critical values (automatic call-back): <20 mm Hg or >50
mm Hg
PO2 (98.6)
60-100 mm Hg
Critical value (automatic call-back): <50 mm Hg
HCO3-(ACT)
20-26 mmol/L
BASE EXCESS (VITRO)
±3 mmol/L
LACTATE
0.44-2.22 mmol/L
Critical value (automatic call-back): >5.0 mmol/L
O2 SATURATION (CALCULATED)
95-100%
TOTAL HEMOGLOBIN
11.5-17.4 g/dL
CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN
0.5-2.5%
Critical value (automatic call-back): >5.0%
METHEMOGLOBIN
0.0-1.5%
Critical value (automatic call-back): >3.0%
SULFAHEMOGLOBIN
0.0-1.0%
Critical value (automatic call-back): >3.0%
O2 HEMOGLOBIN SATURATION (MEASURED)
95-99%
Critical value (automatic call-back): <90%
O2 (CT)
15-23 mL/dL
Test Classification and CPT Coding
82803