| Synonyms:
| CO2 Content, CO2 Venous |
| Specimen: | Blood; (1) SST (serum separator), Red (no preservative) or Green (lithium heparin) top vacutainer tube. |
| Volume: | Full primary tube |
| Minimum Volume: | 100 microL serum/plasma |
| Collection: | If tube other than an SST or PST (plasma separator tube) is collected, transfer serum or plasma to a tightly capped plastic aliquot tube within 2 hours of collection for transport.
Refrigerate at 2-8°C for 7 days.
|
| Rejection Criteria: | Improper labeling. |
| Reference Range: | 0-14 days=13-27 mmol/L 15 days-10 years= 20-30 mmol/L Greater than 10 years= 21 - 32 mmol/L |
| Methodology: | |
| Test Use: | CO2 is used in the evaluation of acid-base and electrolyte status. |
| Additional Information: | Total carbon dioxide concentration may be decreased by 6mmol/L when uncapped specimens are exposed to the air for one hour.
Underfilling of vacutainers may account for low total carbon dioxide results of up to 3mmol/L.
|
| Testing Includes: | Quantitative measurement of carbon dioxide in human serum and plasma. |
| Testing Facility: | AnMed Laboratory |