Sign in →

Test Code ABG Blood Gas, Arterial

Important Note

Do not expose specimen to air. Specimen should be completely without air bubbles. Mix sample well to prevent clotting. Chill specimen and send to laboratory immediately.

Additional Codes

Epic Ordering Code LAB76
NBS code LBC00102
Service code 31000

Specimen Requirements

Submit only one of the following immediately:                                               

Preferred: Special heparinised blood gas syringe
Acceptable: Capillary tube

Specimen Stability

Specimen Type Whole Blood
Ambient Reject
Refrigerate 5 minutes (ice slurry)
Frozen Reject

Specimen Condition

Haemolysis Not applicable
Icterus Not applicable
Lipaemia Not applicable
Others: Sample not sent in ice, sample not sealed, bubbles present in sample, clotted sample Reject

Methodology

pO2 Amperometry
pCO2 Potentiometry
pH Potentiometry

 

Calculated parameters:

Base Excess (BE)

Actual Bicarbonate (HCO3)

Standard Bicarbonate (SBC)

O2 Saturation (SAT)

Days and Times Performed

24 hrs, TAT 1 day

Reference Interval

pH, arterial 7.35 – 7.45
pCO2, arterial 35.0 – 45.0 mmHg
pO2, arterial 75.0 – 105.0 mmHg
Base excess, arterial - 2.0 – 2.0 mmol/L
Actual bicarbonate, arterial 23.0 – 33.0 mmol/L
Standard bicarbonate, arterial 22.0 – 28.0 mmol/L
O2 Saturation, arterial ≥ 96.0 %

Testing Laboratory

National University Hospital

Clinical Chemistry, 67724346

Useful For

Evaluation of acid-base status

Update

Last updated 10/04/2026

Panel Information

Panel includes the following tests:

  • pH        
  • pCO2   
  • pO2       
  • Base Excess (BE)      
  • Actual Bicarbonate (HCO3)    
  • Standard Bicarbonate (SBC)     
  • O2 Saturation (SAT)    

LOINC Code Information

pH, arterial 2744-1
pCO2, arterial 2019-8
pO2, arterial 2703-7
Base excess, arterial 1925-7
Actual bicarbonate, arterial 1960-4
Standard bicarbonate, arterial 19230-2
O2 saturation, arterial 51733-4

Processing Requirements

Place specimen in ice and send to laboratory immediately.

Specimen type: Whole Blood

Volume: 3 mL (syringe) / 180 uL (capillary tube)

Storage/transport requirements: Collect sample in special heparinized blood gas syringe and mix well to prevent clotting. Send sample on ice to laboratory immediately (to arrive within 5 mins).