Normal Arterial Blood Gas Values

Metabolic
pH 7.35-7.45 Acidosis
PaCO2 35-45 mm Hg Acute < 7.35 Normal < 22
PaO2  80-95 mm Hg Partly
HCO3  22-26 mEq/L < 7.35 < 35 < 22
Compensated
O2 Saturation 95-99% Compensated Normal < 35 < 22
BE  +/- 1
Metabolic
Four-Step Guide to ABG Analysis Alkalosis
Acute > 7.45 Normal > 26
1. Is the pH normal, acidotic or alkalotic? Partly
2. Are the pCO2 or HCO3 abnormal?  Which one appears to influence the pH? > 7.45 > 45 > 26
Compensated
3. If both the pCO2 and HCO3 are abnormal, the one which deviates most from Compensated Normal > 45 > 26
the norm is most likely causing an abnormal pH. 
4. Check the pO2.  Is the patient hypoxic?
Mixed Disorders
I used Swearingen's handbook (1990) to base the results of this calculator.  The book
makes the distinction between acute and chronic disorders based on symptoms from
identical ABGs.  This calculator only differentiates between acute (pH abnormal) and It's possible to have more than one disorder influencing blood gas values.  For example
compensated (pH normal).  Compensation can be seen when both the PCO2 and HCO3 ABG's with an alkalemic pH may exhibit respiratory acidosis and metabolic alkalosis. 
rise or fall together to maintain a normal pH.  Part compensation occurs when the PCO2 These disorders are termed complex acid-base or mixed disorders.
and HCO3 rise or fall together but the pH remains abnormal.  This indicates a
compensatory mechanism attempted to restore a normal pH.  I have not put exact limits *This table is able to classify most clinical blood gas values but not all.  In cases where
into the calculator.  For example, it will perceive respiratory acidosis as any pH < 7.35 blood gas values do not fall into any of the above classifications, an answer "unable to
and any CO2 > 45 (i.e. a pH of 1 and CO2 of 1000).  These results do not naturally determine" will appear when using the interpreter.  For example a pH of 7.428, pCO2
occur. 43.6, and a HCO3 of 29.1 do not match any of the classifications (I found these results in
someone's chart).  While the pH and pCO2 are normal, the HCO3 is abnormally high.
pH PaCO2 HCO3
Respiratory
Acidosis
Acute < 7.35 > 45 Normal
Partly
< 7.35 > 45 > 26
Compensated
Compensated Normal > 45 > 26

Respiratory
Alkalosis
Acute > 7.45 < 35 Normal
Partly
> 7.45 < 35 < 22
Compensated
Compensated Normal < 35 < 22