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A blood gas test is often known as an arterial blood gas test or a blood gas analysis that detects oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood. The test also evaluates the pH levels of your blood and lung function. The prime objective of this blood gas test is to determine how well your lungs can move oxygen into the blood and extirpate carbon dioxide from the blood.
Please check the price of the blood gas test in Delhi/NCR, your nearby centers, and other details.
Test Summary of Blood Gas Testing
| Is also known as | Blood Gas Test, Arterial Blood Gas Test |
| Test Type | Blood |
| Blood gas test includes | Oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your blood |
| Preparation | No prior preparation is needed |
| Reporting | Within 24 hours |
| Test Price | The cost of a glucose tolerance test may vary center to center and city to city. You need to check the price online or by visiting the lab. |
| It is also included in | Health Insurance Plans |
| Related Tests | CBC, Chest X-Ray, Urine Test, Blood Sugar Test, Lung Volume Test, Creatinine Test |
The Prime Purpose of the Blood Gas Test
Your doctor will recommend this test to check
- If you have severe breathing and lung problems like asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and obstructive sleep apnea
- How the treatments of your lung problems are working
- Whether you need any additional oxygen or other help with breathing
- Your acid-base balance (You may have too much acid due to some conditions like kidney failure, a severe infection, specific toxic ingestions, or complications of diabetes)
Your doctor may advise this test if you are experiencing
- Lung disease
- Kidney disease
- Metabolic disease
- Head or neck injuries that affect breathing
Once your doctor identifies imbalances in your pH and blood gas levels, he can monitor the treatment for certain conditions.
Procedure for Blood Gas Test
To perform this test, a blood sample needs to be collected from your artery. Arterial blood can be obtained from an artery in your wrist, arm, or groin. A blood sample can also be collected from a vein or preexisting IV or capillary.
After sterilizing the injection, a healthcare expert will find an artery from your arm. Then, he will insert a needle into the artery and collect blood. Though arteries have more smooth muscle layers than veins, still, some people may feel more pain while collecting arterial blood than blood draws from a vein.
Once the needle is removed, the technician will hold it for a few minutes and then, put a bandage over the puncture wound.
The blood sample will then be analyzed by a portable machine or in an on-site laboratory. For an accurate result, the sample should be analyzed within 10 minutes.
Interpretation of the Results
The test results will help the doctor to diagnose various diseases or determine how your treatments are working for certain health conditions. A person should interpret the result by a deft and trained healthcare professional who has plenty of experience in blood gas interpretation.
Measurement Criteria for Blood Gas Test
1. Arterial Blood pH
This portrays the level of hydrogen ions in the blood. A pH of less than 7.0 is called acidic, and a pH greater than 7.0 is called basic, or alkaline. A lower blood pH shows that your blood is more acidic and contains more carbon dioxide levels. A higher blood pH depicts that your blood is more basic and has a higher bicarbonate level.
2. Bicarbonate
This chemical prevents the pH of blood from becoming too acidic or too basic.
3. The Partial Pressure of Oxygen
This indicates the pressure of oxygen dissolved in the blood.
4. The Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide
This test measures the pressure of carbon dioxide dissolved in the blood. It indicates how well carbon dioxide is flown out of the body.
5. Oxygen Saturation
This test measures the amount of oxygen being carried by the hemoglobin in the red blood cells.
Arterial Blood Gas Normal Values
- Arterial Blood pH: 7.38 to 7.42
- Bicarbonate: 22 to 28 milliequivalents per liter
- The Partial Pressure of Oxygen: 75 to 100 mm Hg
- The Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide: 38 to 42 mm Hg
- Oxygen Saturation: 94 to 100 percent
The normal values may differ slightly if they are from a venous or capillary sample. Abnormal results may indicate certain diseases including lung disease, kidney failure, chronic vomiting, faster breathing, anxiety, COPD, and many more.
