Blood Gas

Analyzers
Jayakerupaa S- 110121041
Introduction
• Blood Gas Analyzer also known as ABG
Analyzer(Arterial Blood Gas Analyzers).
• Blood gas analyzers are used to measure
combinations of pH, blood gas (i.e. pCO2
and pO2), electrolytes, and metabolites
parameters from whole blood samples.
• In 1957, John Severinghaus developed the
first Blood Gas Analyzer.
Blood gas
Analyzer
Blood gases are a measurement of how much oxygen and
carbon dioxide are in your blood. They also determine the
acidity (pH) of your blood. Blood gas measurements are used to
evaluate a person's lung function and acid/base balance. Blood
gases are used to detect an acid-base imbalance, such as
can occur with kidney failure, heart failure, uncontrolled
diabetes, severe infections, and drug overdose.

They are typically ordered if someone is having worsening

symptoms of a respiratory problem, such as difficulty breathing
or shortness of breath, and a condition such as asthma or
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
ABG blood gas test results
may show whether:

• Your lungs are getting enough Oxygen.

• Your lungs are removing enough Carbon dioxide.

• Your kidneys are working properly.

PH (Potential Hydrogen)
• Measures Hydrogen ion
concentration in the blood, it
shows blood is Acidity or
Alkalinity
• Normal Range values = 7.35-7.45
PO2 (Partial Pressure of Oxygen)
• It is the Partial Pressure of O2
that is dissolved in the blood, it
reflects the body ability to pick
up oxygen from the lungs.
• Normal Range values = 80-100
mmhg
PCO2 (Partial Pressure of CO2)
ABG
Components
• It is the Partial Pressure of CO2
that is carried by the blood for
excretion by the lungs, known as
Respiratory Parameter
• Normal Range values = 35-45
mmhg
HCO3 (Bicarbonate)
• Known as the Metabolic
parameter, it reflects the kidney’s
ability to retain and excrete
bicarbonate.
• Normal Range values = 22-28
PH PH<7.35
Acidic/Acidosis:

• Decrease in PH due to Decrease in

Normal Range= 7.35-7.45
Bicarbonates(HCO3).
• Symptoms of Acidosis includes headache,
confusion, tiredness, sleepiness, coughing
and shortness of breath, uneven or
increased heart rate, muscle weakness,
coma.

Basic/Alkalosis:

PH>7.45 • Increase in PH due to Increase in

Bicarbonate(HCO3).
• Symptoms of Alkalosis include shaky
hands, vomiting or nausea, confusion,
numbness or tingling in the (feet, hand, or
face), muscles twitches, coma.
 • Normal Range: 35-45mm hg
PCO2 • Hypercapnia: Increase in PCO2 due to
cardiac arrest, chronic obstructive lung
disease, chronic metabolic acid-base
disturbance.

• Normal Range: 80-100mm hg

PO2 • Hypoxemia: Lack of O2 i.e., reduction in

PO2 due to bronchial obstruction, blood
vessel and hemoglobin abnormalities.
 PH Electrode System
• Measuring Electrode: This part of the system includes
a Glass Membrane, Solution of Constant pH, and an
Ag/AgCl Electrode. The measuring electrode is
responsible for detecting the pH level of the solution.
• Function: Measures the acidity or alkalinity of the
blood, indicated by its pH value.
• Components:
⚬ A miniature glass bulb filled with a special
solution, sensitive to hydrogen ions (H+).
⚬ A reference electrode that completes the
electrical circuit.
• Process:
⚬ Blood comes in contact with the glass bulb.
⚬ H+ ions exchange between the blood and the bulb
solution, creating a voltage difference.
⚬ This voltage difference is proportional to the
blood's pH.
• Importance: Blood pH reflects the body's acid-base
balance, crucial for various functions like enzyme
activity and oxygen delivery.
PCO2 Electrode System
Function: Measures the partial pressure of carbon dioxide
(pCO2) in blood.

Components:
• Sample Path: This is the pathway where the blood
sample flows.
• CO2-Permeable Membrane: This membrane allows
carbon dioxide (CO2) to diffuse through from the blood
sample but not other blood components.
• Spacer: This maintains a constant distance between the
membrane and the internal solution.
• Electrolyte Solution: This solution contains bicarbonate
(HCO3-) ions and conducts electricity.
• Silver/Silver Chloride Reference Electrode (Ag/AgCl):
This electrode serves as a reference point for measuring
voltage.
Conti..
• Glass Membrane: This thin membrane separates the
electrolyte solution from an internal buffer
solution.
• Buffer Solution: This solution has a stable pH that
doesn't change with CO2 concentration.
• Glass pH Electrode: This electrode detects changes
in hydrogen ion (H+) concentration.

Process:
• Blood Sample Flow: Blood containing dissolved
CO2 travels through the sample path.
• CO2 Diffusion: CO2 molecules diffuse from the
blood sample across the CO2-permeable membrane.
 Conti..
• CO2 Reaction: CO2 reacts with water (H2O) in the
electrolyte solution to form carbonic acid (H2CO3). This
reaction is facilitated by an enzyme called carbonic
anhydrase, which is usually located near the membrane.
H2O + CO2 <=> H2CO3
• Carbonic Acid Dissociation: H2CO3 dissociates into
bicarbonate (HCO3-) and hydrogen (H+) ions. H2CO3
<=> HCO3- + H+
• pH Change: As the CO2 concentration in the blood sample
increases, more CO2 reacts within the electrode, leading
to more H+ ions being produced. This lowers the pH of
the electrolyte solution.
• Voltage Measurement: The glass pH electrode detects the
change in H+ concentration (pH) of the electrolyte
Importance: pCO2 indicates how effectively the
solution. The voltage difference between the glass pH
lungs remove CO2, a waste product of cellular
electrode and the reference electrode reflects this change
respiration. in pH.
PO2 Electrode System
Function: Measures the partial pressure of oxygen (pO2)
in blood.

Parts:
⚬ Sample Path: This is where the blood sample
flows.
⚬ O2-Permeable Membrane: This membrane allows
oxygen (O2) to diffuse through from the blood
sample.
⚬ Platinum Wire (Cathode): A platinum wire serves
as the cathode of the electrode.
⚬ Electrolyte: An electrolyte solution fills the inner
chamber of the electrode.
⚬ Ag/AgCl Reference Electrode (Anode): A
separate reference electrode completes the
electrical circuit
Conti..
Process:
⚬ Blood containing dissolved oxygen travels
through the sample path.
⚬ Oxygen diffuses across the membrane and
reaches the platinum cathode.
⚬ At the cathode, oxygen undergoes a reduction
reaction, consuming electrons from the
electrolyte solution.
⚬ The flow of electrons creates a current
measurable between the cathode and the reference
electrode.
⚬ The magnitude of this current is directly
proportional to the pO2 of the blood sample.

Importance: pO2 reflects how well oxygen is carried by

hemoglobin in red blood cells, crucial for delivering
oxygen to tissues.
 How it works
Blood is collected from the patient and introduced into the analyser. The
analyser aspirates the blood into a measuring chamber which has Ion
Selective Electrodes (IE electrodes that are sensitive only to the
measurement of interest). The pH electrode compares a potential
developed at the electrode tip with a reference potential, the resulting
voltage is proportional to the concentration of hydrogen ions, [H+].
The pCO2 electrode is a pH electrode with a Teflon or silicone rubber
CO2 semi-permeable membrane covering the tip. CO2 combines with
H2O in the space between the membrane and the electrode tip to
produce free hydrogen ions in proportion to the partial pressure of CO2.
The voltmeter, although actually measuring [H+], is calibrated in pCO2.
For pO2, oxygen permeates a polypropylene membrane and reacts
chemically with a phosphate buffer. The O2 combines with water in the
buffer, producing current in proportion to the number of oxygen
molecules.
 Conti..
The current is measured and expressed as the partial pressure of
oxygen.
After measurement the blood is automatically expelled into a
waste container and the sample path is cleaned, ready for the
next sample. Results may be printed, displayed and sent to the
Laboratory Information System.
 Compensation
Respiratory Acidosis
This occurs when there is an excess of carbon
dioxide (PCO2) in the body due to hypoventilation.
The body compensates by increasing bicarbonate
(HCO3) levels through the kidneys to neutralize the
acid and bring the pH back to normal. This is
referred to as Metabolic Alkalosis in the
compensation process.
Respiratory Alkalosis
This is caused by a deficiency of PCO2 due to
hyperventilation. The body compensates by
decreasing bicarbonate levels through the kidneys to
lower the pH back to normal. This is referred to as
Metabolic Acidosis in the compensation process.
Metabolic Acidosis
This happens when there is a deficiency of
bicarbonate in the body. The body compensates by
decreasing PCO2 through increased breathing
(hyperventilation), which helps to raise the pH back
to normal. This is referred to as Respiratory
Alkalosis in the compensation process.
Metabolic Alkalosis
This occurs when there is an excess of bicarbonate
in the body. The body compensates by increasing
PCO2 through reduced breathing (hypoventilation)
to lower the pH back to normal. This is referred to
as Respiratory Acidosis in the compensation
process.
Thank you
very much!