/ABG

This page focuses on explaining the different results that are provided on an ABG printout slip. They are explained further on the 'causes of disruption' page. Please note, the printout slip layout and contents, as well as normal values provided may differ with each analyser.

Components of the ABG

Analysis information

Measurement report

dd/mm/yyyy  hh:mm

 

Serial number:          ....

     Unique serial number of the analyser

 

Instrument ID:           ....

     Assigned name of analyser i.e. A & E

 

Operator ID:               ....

     Unique ID of operator ID

 

Hospital Location:     ....

     Name of the hospital

Patient information

Patient ID:                     ....

     Usually patient NHS number

 

Patient Name:              ....

Date of Birth:                ....

 

Remark:                          ....

     i.e. on 2L/min nasal cannula

 

FiO2                              ....

     Fraction of inspired oxygen i.e. 0.21 for room air, 0.28  with a controlled venturi mask

 

Temperature:                ....

     Recorded patient temperature (may affect analysis)

 

Blood type:                    ....

     Arterial or venous sample provided?

Figure 1: Exemplar ABG printout

Blood gas values

pH                ....          [7.350 - 7.450]

     pH is defined as the negative log of the hydrogen ion activity: This means that when the concentration of H+ goes up, and the solution becomes more acidic, the pH goes down, and vice versa

 

pCO2            ....          [4.27 - 6.40]

     Partial pressure (number of molecules of a particular gas in a mixture of gases) of carbon dioxide in arterial blood

 

pO2               ....          [11.07 - 14.40]

     Partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood

Acid base status

cHCO3-         ....          [22.0 - 26.0]

     Concentration of bicarbonate (HCO3-), a marker of metabolic disturbance

 

BE                ....           [-2.0 - +2.0]

     The base excess is another marker of metabolic disturbance. The predominant base contributing to base excess is bicarbonate, therefore, derangement in BE usually mirrors cHCO3-. However, base excess is a more comprehensive measurement, encompassing all metabolic contributions. For simplicity however, it is not considered in this guide, as very rarely adds extra information

Electrolyte status

Na+               ....          [136.0 - 145.0]

K+                  ....          [3.50 - 5.10]

Ca2+              ....          [1.150 - 1.330]

Cl-                 ....          [98.0 - 107.0]

     A venous or arterial blood gas is a good way to quickly check electrolyte status

Oxygen status and co-oximetry

Hct  (%)                ....          [36.0 - 53.0]

     Haematocrit (volume percentage of red blood cells in blood)

 

tHb (g/L)              ....          [115.0 - 178.0]

     Total haemoglobin; includes the values below. Haemoglobin acts as a guide but is notoriously inaccurate in an ABG

 

COHb (g/L)          ....          [0.0 - 3.0]

     Concentration of carboxyhemoglobin. Elevated in carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as in tobacco smokers

 

O2Hb  (g/L)          ....          [97.0 - 98.0]

     Concentration of oxyhemoglobin

 

MetHb (g/L)        ....          [0.0-1.5]

     MetHb is an oxidized form of haemoglobin, which may be abnormally raised in methaemoglobinaemia

 

SO2                        ....          [94.0-98.0]

     Commonly referred to as O2 saturations, ratio of oxyhaemoglobin, to total Hb

Metabolite values

Glu                ....          [3.5 - 5.3]

     Glucose level; important in DKA and sepsis

 

Lac                ....          [0.6 - 2.5]

     Lactate level; important in sepsis, and also hypoperfusion. Often in sepsis, an ABG is often the fastest and easiest way of determining lactate

 

/Abg

James Lloyd

Hull York Medical School

/Abg

This page focuses on explaining the different results that are provided on an ABG printout slip. They are explained further on the 'causes of disruption' page. Please note, the printout slip layout and contents, as well as normal values provided may differ with each analyser.

Components of the ABG

Analysis information

Measurement report

dd/mm/yyyy  hh:mm

 

Serial number:          ....

     Unique serial number of the analyser

 

Instrument ID:           ....

     Assigned name of analyser i.e. A & E

 

Operator ID:               ....

     Unique ID of operator ID

 

Hospital Location:     ....

     Name of the hospital

Patient information

Patient ID:                     ....

     Usually patient NHS number

 

Patient Name:              ....

Date of Birth:                ....

 

Remark:                          ....

     i.e. on 2L/min nasal cannula

 

FiO2:                                 ....

     Fraction of inspired oxygen i.e. 0.21 for room air, 0.28  with a controlled venturi mask

 

Temperature:                ....

     Recorded patient temperature (may affect analysis)

 

Blood type:                    ....

     Arterial or venous sample provided?

Blood gas values

pH                ....          [7.350 - 7.450]

     pH is defined as the negative log of the hydrogen ion activity: This means that when the concentration of H+ goes up, and the solution becomes more acidic, the pH goes down, and vice versa

 

pCO2            ....          [4.27 - 6.40]

     Partial pressure (number of molecules of a particular gas in a mixture of gases) of carbon dioxide in arterial blood

 

pO2               ....          [11.07 - 14.40]

     Partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood

Acid base status

cHCO3-         ....          [22.0 - 26.0]

     Concentration of bicarbonate (HCO3-), a marker of metabolic disturbance

 

BE                ....           [-2.0 - +2.0]

     The base excess is another marker of metabolic disturbance. The predominant base contributing to base excess is bicarbonate, therefore, derangement in BE usually mirrors cHCO3-. However, base excess is a more comprehensive measurement, encompassing all metabolic contributions. For simplicity however, it is not considered in this guide, as very rarely adds extra information

Electrolyte status

Na+               ....          [136.0 - 145.0]

K+                  ....          [3.50 - 5.10]

Ca2+              ....          [1.150 - 1.330]

Cl-                 ....          [98.0 - 107.0]

     A venous or arterial blood gas is a good way to quickly check electrolyte status

Oxygen status and co-oximetry

Hct  (%)               ....          [36.0 - 53.0]

     Haematocrit (volume percentage of red blood cells in blood)

 

tHb (g/L)              ....          [115.0 - 178.0]

     Total haemoglobin; includes the values below. Haemoglobin acts as a guide but is notoriously inaccurate in an ABG

 

COHb (g/L)          ....          [0.0 - 3.0]

     Concentration of carboxyhemoglobin. Elevated in carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as in tobacco smokers

 

O2Hb  (g/L)          ....          [97.0 - 98.0]

     Concentration of oxyhemoglobin

 

MetHb (g/L)        ....          [0.0-1.5]

     MetHb is an oxidized form of haemoglobin, which may be abnormally raised in methaemoglobinaemia

 

SO2                       ....          [94.0-98.0]

     Commonly referred to as O2 saturations, ratio of oxyhaemoglobin, to total Hb

Metabolite values

Glu                ....          [3.5 - 5.3]

     Glucose level; important in DKA and sepsis

 

Lac                ....          [0.6 - 2.5]

     Lactate level; important in sepsis, and also hypoperfusion. Often in sepsis, an ABG is often the fastest and easiest way of determining lactate

Figure 1: Exemplar ABG printout