How long can arterial blood gas specimens be kept at room temperature before delivering to the laboratory?

. 2011 Aug;94 Suppl 3:S9-14.

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Effects of temperature and time delay on arterial blood gas and electrolyte measurements
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How long can arterial blood gas specimens be kept at room temperature?
How long is an ABG sample good for?
What happens to an ABG specimen left at room temperature?
How quickly should an ABG specimen be transported to the lab?

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PMID: 22043748

Effects of temperature and time delay on arterial blood gas and electrolyte measurements

Panida Srisan et al. J Med Assoc Thai. 2011 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the changes in pH, PaO2, PaCO2 and Na, K, Cl in arterial blood samples stored at room temperature or on ice, at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes.

Material and method: Arterial blood samples were collected in heparinized capillary tubes and stored at room temperature (24-26 degrees C) and on ice (0-4 degrees C). ABG and electrolytes were measured at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 minute intervals.

Results: There were significant decreases in the pH, PaO2, Na, Cl and significant increases in PaCO2 and K over time in both groups. The changes were greater and faster at room temperature. The significant decrease in pH over time was not found until 30 minutes at room temperature and 45 minutes on ice. There were significant decreases in PaO2, concurrent with significant increases in PaCO2 from 15 minutes onwards in both groups. Both Na and K exhibited a significant change at 60 minutes in the room temperature group. Significant decreases of Cl over time were not found until 15 minutes at room temperature, and 30 minutes on ice.

Conclusion: For ABG and electrolytes analysis, the blood sample should be analyzed within 15 minutes and be stored at either room temperature or on ice.

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How long can arterial blood gas specimens be kept at room temperature?

The Society for Gynecology (SOGC) Fetal Health Surveillance: Ante partum and Intrapartum Consensus Guidelines states that specimens from the umbilical artery are stable for pH and blood gas assessment for up to 60 minutes at room temperature.

How long is an ABG sample good for?

An ABG sample can remain stable on ice for at least 1 hour. It may be argued that an iced sample can remain stable for up to several hours, but at that point it is no longer representative of the patient's current status and its value as a clinical tool is severely diminished.

What happens to an ABG specimen left at room temperature?

Results: There were significant decreases in the pH, PaO2, Na, Cl and significant increases in PaCO2 and K over time in both groups. The changes were greater and faster at room temperature. The significant decrease in pH over time was not found until 30 minutes at room temperature and 45 minutes on ice.

How quickly should an ABG specimen be transported to the lab?

The recommendation to analyze arterial blood specimens within 15 to 30 minutes when collected in plastic syringes was developed based on studies performed in a normal range.