Purpose: Measure and evaluate key parameters in arterial blood to assess respiratory and metabolic function.
Parameters Measured:
pH
Oxygen Content
Carbon Dioxide Content
Additional parameters as necessary.
Arterial Blood Collection:
Primary Sites:
Radial Artery: Most common site for collection.
Brachial Artery: Alternative collection site.
Femoral Artery: Doctors may collect samples from here, but it is not permitted for regular lab techs or phlebotomists.
Capillary Blood Specimens:
Used primarily for infants.
Requires specific collection procedures.
Departmental Responsibilities:
Typically the Respiratory Department handles both collection and analysis.
Some institutions may have Clinical Laboratories responsible for this process.
Special Procedures: Both arterial and capillary blood specimens have distinct procedures that must be adhered to for accurate results.