Test guide
Blood Gas and Electrolytes (ABG)
Point-of-care measurement of oxygenation, ventilation, acid-base status, and electrolytes in critically ill patients.
What it is for
Assesses oxygenation and ventilation, characterises acid-base disturbances, and guides ventilator and fluid management in emergency and intensive-care settings. Modern analysers add sodium, potassium, ionised calcium, glucose, lactate, and haemoglobin to the same sample.
Limitations
Results are highly pre-analytical-sensitive: air bubbles, delayed analysis, heparin excess, and venous-vs-arterial origin all distort values. Venous samples characterise acid-base but not oxygenation. Interpretation requires the patient’s temperature and inspired-oxygen settings at draw time.
Before you test
Samples must be drawn and analysed by staff trained in arterial sampling and specimen handling; no patient preparation is needed in emergencies.
Health information only. This guide does not diagnose or replace advice from a healthcare professional.
Also known as
- ABG
- arterial blood gas
- blood gas analysis
Reviewed products
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