Understanding Arterial Blood Gases

As a phlebotomist, it’s important to know as much about the blood and how it works as possible. This is just as important as being skilled with the needle! Arterial blood gases refer to the oxygen and carbon dioxide present in a person’s arterial blood, as well as the acidity of the blood. By looking at and measuring these gases, the health and functioning of a person’s lungs can be determined. If the lungs aren’t working properly, arterial blood gases will inevitably be in different concentrations than normal.

Look into becoming a phlebotomist, and you can specialize in arterial blood gas collection. The certification information at ASPT can help you become an important part of a medical team that provides care for patients.

You’ll learn to perform an ABG test – this test can tell medical professionals many things about the blood. An ABG test reveals the ability of the lungs to move oxygen into the blood, the amount of oxygen in the blood, the oxygen saturation of the hemoglobin, and the pressure of the oxygen in the blood. With carbon dioxide, a medical professional can see how much carbon dioxide remains in the blood after it has passed through the lungs – effectively measuring the lungs’ capacity to remove it.

Learn more about becoming an arterial blood gas collection professional.

Looking Into: Human Circulatory Diseases

As a phlebotomy technician, you’ll spend the majority of your time helping patients through medical situations that involve the circulatory system. The circulatory system is vital – it’s the means by which the body receives oxygen, nutrients, and other materials needed for normal cellular metabolism. Help your patients protect their heart’s health by being knowledgeable about some common human circulatory diseases.

• Atherosclerosis is characterized by the formation of cholesterol deposits in the arteries, known as arterial plaque. These deposits can interfere with the circulation of blood – thus depriving cells of necessary oxygen.
• Hypertension, or high blood pressure, increases the risk of both stroke and heart attack. It relates to the amount of resistance in blood circulation due to a constriction or narrowing of the arteries.
• Small vessel disease, also known as coronary microvascular disease, occurs when the small arteries of the heart malfunction.
• Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) impacts the larger blood vessels in the body – other than those in the heart and brain.

When you are knowledgeable about human circulatory diseases, you can better help the patients that cross your path each and every day as a phlebotomist.