PH Blood Gas Analyzer

Definition:
Blood gas analysis , also called arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis, is a test which
measures the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, as well as the
acidity (pH) of the blood .
Purpose:
An ABG analysis evaluates how effectively the lungs are delivering oxygen to the
blood and how efficiently they are eliminating carbon dioxide from it. he test also
indicates how well the lungs and !idneys are interacting to maintain normal blood pH
(acid"base balance). Blood gas studies are usually done to assess respiratory
disease and other conditions that may affect the lungs, and to manage patients
receiving
oxygen therapy (respiratory therapy). #n addition, the acid"base component of the test
provides information on !idney function .

Blood gas analysis is performed on blood from an artery. It measures the partial
pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, as well as oxygen content,
oxygen saturation, bicarbonate content, and blood pH
What are Blood Gases ?
here are two broad components to the blood gas panel$ respiratory and metabolic.
he values reported are as follows $
% " pH""his is a logarithmic expression of hydrogen ion concentration""the acidity or
al!alinity of the blood .
" he normal human arterial pH is &.'. Any pH below this is acid, and any pH above it
is al!aline. here is a narrow range of pH values (&.() to &.')) that the human body
and its complicated system of en*yme"supported system operates within. pH values
below &.+ and above &., are incompatible with life .
- " H./
(
""his value is derived through the blood gas analy*er0s manipulation of the
Henderson"Hasslebach 12uation. An uncompensated decrease in the H./
(
value
causes a decline in pH. An increased H./
(
results in al!alini*ation of the blood.
1ither condition can be life threatening. 3ecreased H./
(
is often the result of !idney
or other ma4or organ failure or uncontrolled diabetes. #ncreased H./
(
is more rare
and is usually the result of inappropriate administration of certain drugs such as some
!inds of diuretics or an excess of 5aH./
(
.
( " 6./
-
""his value is measured directly by the ./
-
electrode. An increased 6./
-
is
often the result of acute, chronic or impending respiratory failure, whereas a
decreased 6./
-
is the result of hyperventilation stimulated by a metabolic acidosis or
hysteria and severe anxiety reactions. he normal arterial 6./
-
is '+ mmHg .
' " 6/
-
""he partial pressure of oxygen in the blood is measured directly by a
polarographic /
-
electrode. he normal acceptable range is roughly between 7) and
%++. An increased 6/
-
is usually the result of excessive oxygen administration that
needs to be ad4usted downwards on such results. A decreased 6/
-
is often the result
of any number of respiratory or cardiopulmonary problems .
.
Normal results:
5ormal blood gas values are as follows$

partial pressure of oxygen (6a/

-
)$ &)8%++ mm Hg

partial pressure of carbon dioxide (6a./

-
)$ ()8') mm Hg

oxygen content (/
-
.)$ %)8-(9

oxygen saturation (:a/

-
)$ ;'8%++9

bicarbonate (H./
(
)$ --8-, m12<liter

pH$ &.()8&.')
Abnormal results
=alues that differ from those listed above may indicate respiratory, metabolic, or
!idney disease. hese results also may be abnormal if the patient has experienced
trauma that may affect breathing (especially head and nec! in4uries). 3isorders, such
as anemia, that affect the oxygen"carrying capacity of blood, can produce an
abnormally low oxygen content value .
Principle of operation
Principle of measurement :
Potential difference (voltae! bet"een a #measurin$ electrode and a
#reference$ electrode is proportional to the concentration of hydroen
ions in a solution %
Ion Selective Electrodes (ISE (
Ion Selective Electrodes (ISE) are membrane electrodes that respond selectively to ions in the
presence of others. These include probes that measure specific ions and gasses in solution.
The most commonly used ISE is the pH probe .
1 . PH Electrode

Reference electrode: Silver/silver chloride in saturated potassium chloride
solution. embrane covered tip in contact !ith blood. (pH of this electrode is "no!n (.
Measuring electrode : Silver/silver chloride in buffer solution to maintain constant
#H$%& pH sensitive glass tip in contact !ith blood ' potential develops across this
entirely dependent on activity of H$ in blood .
(lood acts as )bridge* bet!een electrodes and completes the circuit .
- Clarks electrode 2
Measuring paO2
3 - Severinghaus electrode
Measuring aC!2
The system block diagram
S!ME M!"E#S !$ %HE &#!!" '(S ()(#*+E,
&he first blood as analyzer
A modern blood as analyzer
AVL 995 Automatic Blood Gas System
Bayer Rapidlab 840 Blood Gas Analyzer
Bayer Rapidlab 845 Blood Gas Analyzer
iametrics !edical "R!A SL Series #000 Blood Gas Analyze
"L Synt$esis %&%5 Blood Gas Analyzer
'iba 'ornin ()*+ (,*+ (-* .eries
Blood Gas 'ritical Analyte .ystem
Simpler' Sa(er Sample )andlin*