Certified Medical Assistant (CMA AAMA)Procedures, Examinations and DiagnosticsMedium
A medical assistant is preparing to transport an arterial blood gas specimen to the laboratory. Which handling method best preserves the accuracy of the results during transport?
- APlace the specimen in an ice slurry and transport immediately
- BCentrifuge the specimen before transport to separate plasma
- CFreeze the specimen and transport within 24 hours
- DTransport the specimen at room temperature within 2 hours
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Place the specimen in an ice slurry and transport immediately
Arterial blood gas specimens must be placed in an ice slurry immediately after collection to slow cellular metabolism, which would otherwise alter pH, PCO2, and PO2 values, and transported to the lab as quickly as possible.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Centrifugation is not performed on whole blood gas specimens before analysis.
- C. Freezing damages the sample and is not standard practice for blood gases.
- D. Room temperature transport allows metabolic changes that skew blood gas values.
Blood Gas Specimen Handling
Arterial blood gas specimens should be placed on ice immediately and analyzed promptly to prevent cellular metabolism from altering results.
- Ice slurry slows metabolic activity
- Delayed testing raises PCO2, lowers pH and PO2
- Should be analyzed within 15-30 minutes ideally
Memory trick: Ice it quick before the cells eat the oxygen.