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Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 31, 568-571, Copyright © 1984 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Technical Communications: Is it Necessary to Transport Arterial Blood Samples on Ice for pH and Gas Analysis?

AMIN A. NANJI MD FRCP(C)1 and KAREN J. WHITLOW PHD1

1 Division of Clinical Chemistry, Vancouver General Hospital and Department of Pathology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

Address correspondence to: Dr. Amin A. Nanji, Director, Clinical Chemistry, Ottawa General Hospital, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1G 8L6.

We evaluated whether arterial blood samples for pH and blood gas analysis need to be transported on ice. We found that although the changes in pH, pCO2 and pO2 were greater in samples kept at room temperature versus those kept on ice, the difference was probably not of clinical significance until the period of time after arterial puncture exceeded 20 minutes. We recommend that arterial blood samples do not need to be kept on ice if the analysis for pH and gases is performed within 20 minutes of blood being drawn.

Key Words: MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES: blood gases






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Copyright © 1984 by the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.