Effects of Syringe and Filling Volume on Analysis of Blood pH,Oxygen Tension,and Carbon Dioxide Tension

Abstract

Results of pH, PCO2, and PO2 analyses were compared on blood samples from the same persons drawn into three different samplers (0.6-ml Mosquito Arterial Blood Sampler, 5-ml Multifit glass syringe, and 3-ml Monoject disposable plastic syringe). Three filling volumes (0.6, 1.0, and 2.5 ml) were compared for use with the conventional glass and plastic syringes. Effects of sampler and filling volume on pH were clinically insignificant. pH and blood gas results from the Mosquito sampler were fairly close to those from the conventional syringes filled to 2.5 ml. For the conventional syringes PCO2 values varied directly, and PO₂ values varied inversely, with filling volume. The Mosquito sampler appears to be a desirable innovation for measurement of pH and PCO2 and gives PO2 results clinically comparable with those from a conventional syringe filled to 2.5 ml.