An Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) test measures the amounts of arterial gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. Small amount of blood is drawn from arteries, which can be, Radial artery, Femoral artery, Brachial artery or another suitable one. An ABG test measures the blood-gas tension values of the arterial partial pressure of oxygen, and the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide, and the blood’s pH. In addition, the arterial oxygen saturation can be determined.
Such information is vital when caring for patients with critical illnesses or respiratory disease. Therefore, the ABG test is one of the most common tests performed on patients in intensive-care units.
Watch the video below to see how a Phelebotomist or a Doctor performs Arterial Blood Gas Analysis on a patient: