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Test Code VBG Blood Gas, Venous

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.

Laboratory Code

LAB79

Specimen Requirements

Submit only one of the following:

 

Preferred

Specimen Type: Whole Blood
Container/Tube: Special heparinised blood gas syringe
Volume: 3.0 mL
Minimum Volume: 1.0 mL
Collection Instructions: 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).

 

Acceptable
Specimen Type: Whole Blood
Container/Tube: Capillary tube
Volume: 180.0 uL
Minimum Volume:  180.0 uL
Collection Instructions: 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).

Specimen Stability

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

Panel Information

Panel includes the following tests:

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

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

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

Reference Interval

pH, venous 7.30 – 7.40
pCO2, venous  40.0 – 50.0 mmHg
pO2, venous 25.0 – 45.0 mmHg
Base excess, venous - 3.0 – 3.0 mmol/L
Actual bicarbonate, venous 22.0 – 32.0 mmol/L
Standard bicarbonate, venous 22.0 – 32.0 mmol/L
O2 saturation, venous 45.0 – < 70.0%

Testing Laboratory

National University Hospital

Clinical Chemistry, 67724346

Useful For

Evaluation of acid-base status.

Service Code

31000

LOINC Code Information

pH, venous 2746-6
pCO2, venous 2021-4
pO2, venous 2705-2
Base excess, venous            1927-3
Actual bicarbonate, venous 14627-4
Standard bicarbonate, venous 19232-8
O2 saturation, venous 51731-8

Update

Last updated 10/03/2025