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Oxygen tension measurement using an automatic blood gas analyser
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
|August 1, 1981
Summary
This study assessed blood gas analyser (BGA) reliability. Results show that some BGA readings deviating slightly from the true value may still impact patient management, even if not ignored by clinicians.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Medical Device Technology
Background:
- Accurate blood gas analysis is crucial for patient management.
- The reliability of automatic blood gas analysers (BGAs) can vary, impacting clinical decisions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability of the oxygen electrode in a specific model of automatic blood gas analyser (BGA).
- To assess the impact of measurement discrepancies on clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- Two assessment methods were used: an extracorporeal circuit with bank blood and tonometered fresh blood.
- Four identical BGAs (3-4 years old) were tested using known gas mixtures and calibrated gases.
Main Results:
- In the first method, 31% of measurements deviated by more than 1.2 kPa from the reference value.
- In the second method, correlation coefficients for the BGAs ranged from 0.84 to 0.97, indicating comparable performance.
- Discrepancies between 1.2 and 4.0 kPa may adversely affect patient management.
Conclusions:
- While significant deviations may lead to ignored readings, smaller discrepancies from automatic blood gas analysers can still influence clinical decisions.
- The reliability of the oxygen electrode in the tested BGA model warrants careful consideration in clinical settings.