An extremely simple and fast microlitre method for the determination of total carbon dioxide in biological samples

For those clinical laboratories equipped with a microprocessor-controlled gas analyser, an extremely simple method is described for the determination of the total carbon dioxide content in various biological fluids. Since this method needs only 20 microL of blood plasma or is less dependent on the original total carbon dioxide content, it is especially suited for paediatric purposes. With our procedure the time necessary for one determination equals the time for one capillary blood gas analysis.