Preanalytical Considerations in Blood Gas Analysis Total Quality Issues for the Clinical Laboratory

As indicated at the outset of this report, the critical nature of the clinical requirements when blood gas testing is indicated, coupled with the labile nature of the sample and rapidly changing patient conditions makes it imperative that the analyst be aware of more than just the analysis it self Knowledge by the analyst, of the physiology of blood gas, the interpretation of basic blood gas results, the effects of the changing patient environment and the manner in which the sample is treated in a few short minutes from collection to reporting are equally important if one is to assure timely and clinically meaningful results.