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.