[Determination of the degree of saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen in blood microsamples]

The method of polarographic determination of blood O2 content (CO2) and oxygen capacity (OC) is described. The method for the calculation of Hb O2 saturation (SO2) by CO2 to OC ratio was compared to direct SO2 measurement on OSM-2 radiometer. The measured and calculated SO2 values were identical and correlated well (r-1.0), the accuracy of calculation independent of the baseline blood pO2 and Hb concentration. P50 and pO2 values, with SO2-50%, calculated by Hill's formula using the calculated and measured SO2 values were identical. Polarographic method of CO2 calculation does not require large blood volumes, is realized using simple devices and microanalysers, possesses adequate accuracy and reproducibility of the results.