What is the Full form of ABG
The full of ABG is the Arterial Blood Gas. It refers to a test done to measure the levels of oxygen, carbon, and acidity (pH) in the blood of an artery. This test checks how effectively your lungs move oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the blood. As blood passes through the lungs, oxygen from the air in the lungs moves into the blood, and carbon dioxide from the blood comes out into the lungs.
This test takes blood from an artery before it enters the body's tissues. This gives you the following information or measures:
The partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2): It is the pressure of oxygen dissolved in arterial blood. Oxygen pressure shows how efficiently oxygen gets into the lungs' blood.
The partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2): It is also the pressure of carbon dioxide dissolved in arterial blood. It shows how efficiently carbon dioxide gets from the blood to the lungs.
pH: It measures the blood's hydrogen ions (H+)/pH. A pH less than 7 means an acidic solution, and more than 7 indicates a basic/alkaline solution. Generally, the pH of arterial blood ranges from 7.38 to 7.42. So it has a slightly basic nature.
Bicarbonate (HCO3): It is a chemical (buffer) that helps maintain ph blood. It prevents the blood from becoming too acidic or too alkaline.
Oxygen content (O2CT) and oxygen saturation (O2Sat) values: The O2 value measures the amount of oxygen in the blood. The oxygen saturation value tells how much of the total hemoglobin in the red blood cells carry oxygen.
Process of ABG
An access blood sample is typically taken from the wrist but may also be taken from the femoral vein or the arm through the crease of the elbow. The person is located with the arm outstretched and the wrist resting on a small cushion. The doctor taking the blood can turn the person's arm back and forth and feel the heartbeat at the wrist.
A method called the Allen test is performed to ensure that blood circulation to the hand is normal. An arterial blood gas test is not done on the arm used for dialysis or if there is any disease or deterioration in the area of ??the cut site.
The doctor who collects a blood sample from a person performs the following activities:
• Clean the needle site with liquor.
• Insert the needle into the delivery line.
• Let the blood fill the syringe.
• Place a bandage cushion or cotton swab over the needle site when the needle is removed.
• Place the wrap over the cut and apply firm pressure for 5 to 10 minutes.
Reason for Arterial Blood Gas
Doctors request an arterial blood gas test for:
• Check for extreme breathing and lung problems such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Check how medicines are working for your lung problems.
• Check to see if you need additional oxygen or other breathing assistance.
• Check the pH level. A person may have excess acid in the body due to kidney failure, serious illness, explicitly harmful ingestion, complications of diabetes, or inadequately treated sleep disruption.
Normal values of an ABG test
• pH = 7.38 - 7.42
• Bicarbonate: 22 - 28 mEq/L
• The partial pressure of oxygen: 75 - 100 mm Hg
• The partial pressure of carbon dioxide: 38 - 42 mm Hg
• Oxygen saturation: 94 - 100 percent