Alberta Precision Laboratories

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Organization:

Sub-Page

Message Alert:

PLEASE NOTE: This Test Directory is in an interim state and due to changes pertaining to the DynaLIFE transition, performing site for routing has not been updated. Please refer to Laboratory Information System for appropriate routing.

Test Name/Synonym:

Blood Gas, Venous – GEM (Synonym: VBG, Venous Blood Gas, BG)

Test Includes:

pO2, O2 Saturation, and Oxyhemoglobin will not be reported on specimens collected in vacutainers.

Calgary Zone: (ACH, FMC, SHC, RGH, and PLC): pH, pCO2, pO2, O2 Saturation, HCO3, Base excess, Total Hemoglobin, Carboxyhemoglobin, Oxyhemoglobin, Methemoglobin, Hematocrit, Glucose, Lactate, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Anion Gap, Ionized calcium, Ionized calcium normalized, and Barometric Pressure.

Calgary Zone: (All other sites): pH, pCO2, pO2, O2 Saturation, HCO3, Base excess, Total Hemoglobin, Carboxyhemoglobin, Oxyhemoglobin, Methemoglobin, Hematocrit, and Barometric Pressure.

Central Zone: pH, pCO2, pO2, HCO3, Base Excess, Total Hemoglobin, Carboxyhemoglobin, Methemoglobin, Ionized calcium, and Lactate.

North Zone: pH, pCO2, pO2, O2 Saturation, HCO3, Base excess, Total Hemoglobin, Carboxyhemoglobin, Oxyhemoglobin, Methemoglobin, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Anion gap, Ionized Calcium, Ionized Calcium normalized, and Lactate.

Ordering Alert:

These tests are run as a panel only. This test panel is NOT for routine electrolyte, metabolite, or hemoglobin testing.

Calgary Zone:
ACH, PLC, RGH: Testing is restricted to specimens originating from the Emergency Department. Testing from other departments is not performed by the laboratory.

FMC: Testing is restricted to specimens originating form the Emergency department, McCaig PACU & OR (OR if required as backup). Testing from other departments is not performed by the laboratory.

SHC: Testing is restricted to specimens originating from the Emergency department, ICU, RAU, PACU & OR. Testing from other departments is not performed by the laboratory.

Collection Alert:

For community or outpatient requests, refer to Blood Gas, Venous – Community and Outpatients

Do not collect at a Patient Service Centre or by Mobile Collection Services.

If a tourniquet is used during collection, refer to specimen collection requirements below for collection guidelines.

Calgary Zone (ACH, FMC, PLC, RGH, and SHC):
The laboratory does not collect specimens for Venous Blood Gas testing with the exception of ACH. ACH laboratory staff will collect Venous Blood Gas orders on Inpatients ONLY when there are other tests ordered for the same collection/same patient.

Calgary Zone (All other sites):
Specimen collection is performed by both laboratory and nursing staff.

LABID (Connect Care):

LAB79

Specimen Type:

Whole Blood

Specimen Source:

Venous

Primary Container:

Calgary (Banff, Canmore, High River, and Strathmore), North , and Central Zones:
DARK GREEN - LIHEP NO GEL

All other sites:
HEPARINIZED SYRINGE

Alternate Containers:

Didsbury District Health Services:
DARK GREEN - LIHEP NO GEL

Camrose – St. Mary’s Hospital:
HEPARINIZED SYRINGE or MINT LIHEP PST

Grande Prairie Regional Hospital:
HEPARINIZED SYRINGE

Minimum Collection Volume:

Vacutainer tube: Must be filled to capacity.
Heparinized syringe: 0.7 mL whole blood

Specimen Collection Requirements:

A tourniquet is not required for collection but can be used during collection if the following guidelines are followed:

Draw sample immediately after application of tourniquet; tourniquet application must not exceed one minute before accessing vein.
If tourniquet is in place longer than one minute before accessing vein, release it and reapply after two minutes before performing venipuncture.
Do not clench fist during and prior to collection.

Stability and Storage:

Calgary and Central Zones:
Heparinized Syringes: Room temperature: 15 minutes
Refrigerated temperature: 30 minutes
Vacutainers:
Room temperature: 30 minutes

North Zone
Room temperature: 30 minutes

Processing:

Avoid / remove air bubbles from heparinized syringes.
Mix well by gentle inversion.

Transportation:

Transport to performing department immediately.
Transport at room temperature.

Testing Schedule:

Daily

Reference Interval:

Parameter	Units	Gender	Reference Interval
pH	N/A	All	7.30 – 7.40
pCO2	mmHg		35 – 50
pO2	mmHg		30.0 – 50.0
HCO3	mmol/L		20 – 27
BE	mmol/L		-4 - 1
tHb	g/L		Refer to CBC and Differential Provincial Reference Intervals and Critical Values - Epic (albertahealthservices.ca)
O2 Sat	%		50 – 80
COHb	%		0.0 – 3.0
MetHb	%		0.0 – 1.5
OxyHb	%		50 - 80
Lactate	mmol/L		Refer to individual analyte test page
Glucose	mmol/L		Refer to individual analyte test page
Ionized Calcium	mmol/L		Refer to individual analyte test page
Ionized Calcium normalized	mmol/L		Refer to individual analyte test page
Sodium	mmol/L		Refer to individual analyte test page
Potassium	mmol/L		Refer to individual analyte test page
Chloride	mmol/L		Refer to individual analyte test page
Anion gap	mmol/L		Refer to Electrolyte Panel test page
Hct	L/L		Refer to CBC and Differential Provincial Reference Intervals and Critical Values - Epic (albertahealthservices.ca)

Critical Value:

Parameter	Units	Gender	Critical Value
pH	N/A	All	Less than 7.15 or greater than 7.55
pCO2	mmHg		Less than 15, or if greater than 55 when pH is less than 7.20
HCO3	mmol/L		Less than 10 or greater than 40
tHb	g/L		Refer to CBC and Differential Provincial Reference Intervals and Critical Values - Epic (albertahealthservices.ca)
COHb	%		Greater than 15
MetHb	%		Greater than 10
Lactate	mmol/L		Refer to individual analyte test page
Glucose	mmol/L		Refer to individual analyte test page
Ionized Calcium	mmol/L		Refer to individual analyte test page
Ionized Calcium normalized	mmol/L		Refer to individual analyte test page
Sodium	mmol/L		Refer to individual analyte test page
Potassium	mmol/L		Refer to individual analyte test page

Calgary Zone:
See critical values

Testing Area:

Biochemistry

Performing Site:

Calgary Zone	Airdrie Community Health Centre Alberta Children’s Hospital Banff Mineral Springs Hospital Canmore General Hospital Didsbury District Health Services Foothills Medical Centre High River General Hospital Peter Lougheed Centre Rockyview General Hospital South Health Campus Strathmore District Health Services
Central Zone	Camrose – St. Mary’s Hospital
North Zone	Grande Prairie Regional Hospital

Additional Test Information:

Calgary Zone
When transporting blood gas specimens via the pneumatic tube system, DO NOT place in the same biohazard bag as any other blood work; use a separate biohazard bag.

CRL: Order in Connect Care (inpatients/ER) or use an outpatient requisition.

ACH:
Inpatient only:
Order as POCT Venous Blood Gas.
If Lab is required to collect, order “Collection by lab for POCT”

If Respiratory staff are not present for the collection or haven't been notified, then Nursing staff will provide the heparinized syringe for Laboratory staff to collect the specimen.Nursing staff will notify Respiratory of the collection.

ED only:
Order in Connect Care. Call the Chemistry direct line 5-7383 and inform them that a blood gas specimen is being sent via the pneumatic tube system.

FMC:
ED, McCaig PACU, McCaig OR only:
Order in Connect Care.
Page 'VBG sent' to 00304 to inform them that a blood gas specimen is being sent via the pneumatic tube system.

PLC:
ED only:
Order in Connect Care.
Send via pneumatic tube system to Station 64.

RGH:
ED only:
Order in Connect Care.
Call the Chemistry direct line 3-3594 and inform them that a blood gas specimen is being sent via the pneumatic tube system.

SHC:
ED, PACU, ICU, OR only:
Order in Connect Care.
Call the Chemistry direct line 6-1377 and inform them that a blood gas specimen is being sent via the pneumatic tube system.

Last Updated On:

Tuesday, January 14, 2025