Blood Gases (Blood)

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Test Guide

Blood Gases (Blood)

Department

Chemical Pathology

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

BGAS

Test Code (Numeric Code)

0340

Laboratory Handling

Sample Stability

30 mins

Synonyms

Acid-Base Blood, Base Excess, BG

Turnaround Time

15 minutes

Available 24 hrs

Specimen Type

Whole Blood

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Blood Gas Syringe

Acceptable

Lithium Heparin - Non-gel (Green Cap)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

0.5

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Paediatric Blood Gas Capillary Tubes

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

0.95

Diagnostic Use

Venous blood collected into a heparinised syringe can be used in many clinical situations where pO2 and pCO2 are not required (e.g. DKA and other metabolic disturbances). The reference intervals are slightly different, but this makes no significant difference to the interpretation of metabolic acid-base disturbances.

Reference Intervals

	ARTERIAL	VENOUS
pH	7.35 – 7.45	7.30 – 7.40
pCO2	4.7 – 6.0 kpA	5.3 – 6.7 kPa
pO2 (0 – 2 years)	9.3 – 13.3 kPa
pO2 (2 years – adult)	10.0 – 14.0 kPa
HCO3 (0 – 2 years)	17 – 24 mmol/L	17 – 24 mmol/L
HCO3 (2 years – adult)	22 – 28 mmol/L	22 – 32 mmol/L
Base Excess	-3 to +3	-3 to +3
O2 Saturation	0.95 – 1.0
Sodium (0 – 4 weeks)	134 – 148 mmol/L	134 – 148 mmol/L
Sodium (4 weeks -adult)	135 – 145 mmol/L	135 – 145 mmol/L
Potassium (0 – 4 weeks)	4.5 – 6.0 mmol/L	4.5 – 6.0 mmol/L
Potassium (4 weeks – adult)	3.5 – 5.2 mmol/L	3.5 – 5.2 mmol/L
Ionised calcium (1 day- 1 year)	1.10 – 1.45 mmol/L	1.10 – 1.45 mmol/L
Ionised calcium (1 year – adult)	1.15 – 1.30 mmol/L	1.15 – 1.30 mmol/L
Chloride (0 – 4 weeks)	90 – 114 mmol/L	90 – 114 mmol/L
Chloride (4 weeks – adult)	95 – 110 mmol/L	95 – 110 mmol/L
Glucose	3.0 – 11.0 mmol/L	3.0 – 11.0 mmol/L
Lactate	0 – 1.99 mmol/L	0 – 1.99 mmol/L
Anion gap	10 – 20 mEq/L	10-20 mEq/L
H+	35 – 45 nmol/L	40 – 50 nmol/L

CORD BLOOD:

ARTERIAL
pH	7.10 – 7.40
pCO2	5.6 – 9.8 kPa
pO2	0.8 – 3.7 kPa
HCO3	18 – 28 mmol/L
Lactate	<6.1 mmol/L
Base excess	-12 – +2
H+	40 – 80 nmol/L

VENOUS
pH	7.22 – 7.44
pCO2	3.8 – 7.1 kPa
pO2	2.2 – 5.3 kPa
HCO3	17 – 26 mmol/L
Lactate	<6.1 mmol/L
Base excess	-12 – +2
H+	36 – 60 nmol/L

Test Method

Principle: Blood gas analysis
Analyser: Radiometer ABL800 FLEX

Uncertainty of Measurement

Contact Information

Phone Number: 09 276 0167

Extension: 58167

Enquiry Form

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Contact Information

Phone Number: 09 276 0167

Extension: 58519

Enquiry Form

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Last updated: 17/04/2026

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

Overview

Department

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

Test Code (Numeric Code)

Laboratory Handling

Sample Stability

Synonyms

Turnaround Time

Specimen

Specimen Type

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Acceptable

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

Referral

Clinical Information/Test Method

Diagnostic Use

Reference Intervals

Test Method

Uncertainty of Measurement

Price

Additional Costing Information

Contact Information

Contact Information

Enquiry Form

Contact Information

Enquiry Form

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