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Carbon Dioxide

Carbon Dioxide

Alternate Test Name

Bicarbonate

Epic Mnemonic
Sunquest Mnemonic

LAB55
CO2

Category

Chemistry

Methodology

Enzymatic Absorbance

Test Performance Schedule

Sunday – Saturday

Result Availability

Within 24 hours – STAT upon request

Specimen Required

Container

Gold top (SST), Red top (serum), or Green top (lithium heparin) tube

Volume

Pref. Vol.: 1.0 mL
Min. Vol.: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions

• Routine venipuncture

• Immediately after collection, gently invert tube 5-10 times

• Clot 30 minutes

• Promptly centrifuge 10 minutes

• If no gel barrier is present immediately transfer serum or plasma to a plastic tube and refrigerate

• Properly centrifuged gel barrier tube does not require transfer of serum or plasma to separate tube

Transportation Instructions

Refrigerated

Stability

Room Temperature: 40 hours
Refrigerated: 5 days

Remarks

Bicarbonate content in uncapped tubes decreases approximately 4 mmol/L after one hour. Keep samples capped during transport and storage.

CPT Codes

82374

Effective/Revised

03/22/2017

Clinical Significance

Serum (plasma) carbon dioxide (CO2) is actually a measurement of bicarbonate (HCO3-). In the body, 95% of the CO2 is present as bicarbonate so most of what is measured represents bicarbonate. Bicarbonate is the second largest fraction of the anions in plasma. The bicarbonate content of serum or plasma is a significant indicator of electrolyte dispersion and anion deficit. Together with pH determination, bicarbonate measurements are used in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous potentially serious disorders associated with acid-base imbalance in the respiratory and metabolic systems.

 

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