An arterial blood gas (ABG) test measures oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH, and bicarbonate levels in blood. It is performed by taking a blood sample from an artery, typically in emergency situations, to evaluate conditions involving the lungs or respiration like respiratory failure or distress. The test measures partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide, oxygen content, pH, and bicarbonate to assess how well oxygen is being absorbed and carbon dioxide is being expelled from the blood and body.

1. ABG TEST
R. Manoj
B. Sc Aect 1 year
SIGIMS, Trichy

2. Arterial Blood Gas Test
An arterial blood gas (ABG) test measures the
oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your blood
as well your blood's pH balance. The sample is
taken from an artery, not a vein, and healthcare
providers typically order it in certain emergency
situations.

3. Other Common
Name’s
• Blood gas test
• Blood gas analysis

4. What Is Measured In An Arterial Blood Gas
Test?
• Oxygen content (O2CT): This measures the amount of oxygen in your
blood
• Hemoglobin: This measures the amount of hemoglobin, the protein
responsible for carrying oxygen to your cells, in your blood.
• Oxygen saturation (O2Sat): This measures how much hemoglobin in
your blood is carrying oxygen. Hemoglobin is a protein in your red
blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your
body.

5. ABG Test Measured In
• Partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2): This measures the
pressure of oxygen dissolved in your blood. It helps show
how well oxygen moves from your lungs to your
bloodstream.
• Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2): This measures
the amount of carbon dioxide in your blood and how well
carbon dioxide can move out of your body.

6. ABG Test Measured In
• pH: This measures the balance of acids and bases in your blood,
known as your blood pH level. The pH of blood is usually between
7.35 and 7.45. If it’s lower than that, your blood is considered too
acidic. If it’s higher than that range, your blood is considered too
basic (alkaline).
• Bicarbonate (HCO3): This is calculated using the measured values of
pH and PaCO2 to determine the amount of the basic compound made
from carbon dioxide (CO2.)

8. When Is An ABG Test Performed?
• Emergency medicine: Emergency medicine is the area of medicine
that’s concerned with the care of illnesses or injuries requiring
immediate medical attention.
• Anesthesiology: Anesthesiology is the area of medicine that’s
concerned with the care of people before, during and after surgery. It
encompasses anesthesia, intensive care medicine, critical emergency
medicine and pain medicine.
• Pulmonology: Pulmonology is the area of medicine that deals with
diseases involving your respiratory system.

9. ABG Evaluate Conditions
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• Severe sepsis
• Septic shock
• Hypovolemic shock
• Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
• Renal tubular acidosis (RTA)

10. ABG Evaluate Conditions
• Acute respiratory failure
• Acute heart failure
• Cardiac arrest
• Asthma attack
• Inborn errors of metabolism

11. Blood Collecting sites

12. Blood Collecting Sites
• Radial artery
• Brachial artery
• Femoral artery
• If a newborn needs an arterial blood gas test, a
provider may take the sample from the baby's heel or
umbilical cord

13. ABG Test Indications
• Respiratory failure – in acute and chronic states.
• Any severe illness which may lead to a metabolic acidosis – for
example:
• Cardiac failure.
• Liver failure.
• Renal failure.
• Hyperglycaemic states associated with diabetes mellitus.

14. ABG Test Contraindications
• Local infection
• Distorted anatomy
• Presence of arterio-venous fistulas
• Peripheral vascular disease of the limb to be sampled
• Severe coagulopathy or recent thrombolysis

15. Complications Of ABG Test
• Local hematoma.
• Arterial vasospasm.
• Arterial occlusion.
• Air or thrombus embolism.

16. Complications Of ABG Test
• Local anesthetic anaphylactic reaction.
• Infection at the puncture site.
• Needle-stick injury to healthcare personnel.
• Vessel laceration.

17. ABG Test Procedure
• You’ll sit in a chair or lie in a medical bed, and a respiratory therapist
will look for an artery, usually in your inner wrist. They might use
ultrasound imaging to help find an artery.
• Once they’ve located an artery, they’ll clean and disinfect the area.
• They’ll then insert a small needle into your artery to take a blood
sample. You may feel a sharp pain as the needle goes into your artery
• After they insert the needle, a small amount of blood will collect in a
syringe

18. ABG Test Procedure
• Once they have enough blood to test, they’ll remove the needle and
hold a cotton ball or gauze on the site to stop the bleeding. They may
apply pressure for five to 10 minutes or longer if you’re taking blood-
thinning medication.
• They’ll place a bandage over the site, and you’ll be finished
• Sample insert the automated blood gas analyzers, which provide
results within 10 to 15 minutes.

19. Sample Collecting And ABG Test Analyzer

20. ABG Test Risks
• Fainting or feeling lightheaded
• Multiple punctures to locate your artery
• Hematoma (blood building up under your skin)
• Excessive bleeding
• Infection (a slight risk any time your skin is punctured or
cut)

21. Type Of ABG Machines
Epoc

22. GEM 4000 EDAN

23. SIEMENS i-STAT

24. ◦•●◉✿Thank you✿◉●•◦