Category
Laboratory Point of Care
Typical Use
Measure arterial blood gases and acid base status.
Description
A point of care or laboratory instrument that measures arterial blood gas parameters including pH, partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide, and electrolytes to assess respiratory function, acid base balance, and metabolic status in critically ill patients. Rapid blood gas analysis guides ventilator management, oxygen therapy, and treatment of acid base disturbances in emergency and intensive care settings, and requires proper sample handling to avoid air contamination or metabolic changes. Calibration, quality control, and staff competency are essential to ensure accurate results that directly influence clinical decision making. Blood gas analyzers may be integrated with hospital information systems for timely reporting and trend analysis.