Instrumental variability of respiratory blood gases among different blood gas analysers in different laboratories

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that differences in oxygen tension (PO 2 ) and carbon dioxide tension (PCO 2 ) values from measurements performed on different blood gas analysers in different laboratories are clinically insignificant.Samples of fresh whole human tonometered blood (PO 2 8.1 kPa (60.8 mmHg); PCO 2 5.3 kPa (39.9 mmHg)) were placed in airtight glass syringes and transported in ice-water slush. Blood gas analysis was performed within 3.5 h by 17 analysers (10 different models) in 10 hospitals on one day.The mean of the differences between the measured and target values was -0. We conclude that the variability in measurement of blood gas values among different blood gas analysers, although negligible, depends much more on inter-than intra-instrument variation, both for oxygen tension and carbon dioxide tension. Technical improvements and adequate quality control programmes, including tonometry, may explain why the variability in blood gas values depends mainly on errors in the pre-analytical phase.

Comparison of 4 point‐of‐care blood gas analyzers for arterial blood gas analysis in healthy dogs and dogs with cardiopulmonary disease

“…In the veterinary literature, this is the first report to our knowledge to investigate this clinically relevant question. Our results are in agreement with those published in human medicine concluding that important clinically significant differences exist for PO 2 values related to the type of analyzer used …”

“…In human medicine, several studies have looked into interchangeability of different blood gas analyzers in a clinical setting with variable results. Although some studies concluded that differences in results from POC devices should be deemed acceptable, others identified a clinically relevant variation in PO 2 measurements . In the veterinary literature, this is the first report to our knowledge to investigate this clinically relevant question.…”

“…Although some studies concluded that differences in results from POC devices should be deemed acceptable, others identified a clinically relevant variation in PO 2 measurements. [7][8][9] In the veterinary literature, this is the first report to our knowledge to investigate this clinically relevant question. Our results are in agreement with those published in human medicine concluding that important clinically significant differences exist for PO 2 values related to the type of analyzer used.…”

Continuous neonatal blood gas monitoring using a multiparameter intra-arterial sensor

“…A recent study18 found negligible variation within instruments, where precision (SD of the differences) values of 0.03 and 0.06 kPa were reported for PaCO 2 and PaO 2 , respectively. Comparison of 10 different analysers gave precision values of 0.13 and 0.18 kPa for PaCO 2 and PaO 2 , respectively, although the full clinical range of PaCO 2 and PaO 2 values was not tested.…”

Continuous Neonatal Blood Gas Monitoring Using a Multiparameter Intra-Arterial Sensor

“…A recent study 18 found negligible variation within instruments, where precision (SD of the diVerences) values of 0.03 and 0.06 kPa were reported for PaCO 2 Clearly, it is useful to consider the variation between two ABG analysers (two gold standards) when interpreting the ABG analyser/ Neotrend MPIAS precision figures. The level of overall precision for the Neotrend MPIAS is not suYcient to eliminate the need for ABG sampling.…”