Removing air bubbles from a blood gas sample

Achieve sample integrity by removing air bubbles from a blood gas sample

  • Request info

    Get in touch to let us know how we can help you minimize errors in the preanalytical phase. Contact our support team so they can help you make decisions that meet your needs.

    By submitting this form, I acknowledge that I have reviewed and understood the data privacy notice.

  • Read more
During the collection of arterial blood, air bubbles in the syringe need to be expelled immediately to avoid bias on the results. 

Expel air bubbles from a blood gas sample by gently tapping on the side of the syringe to bring the air bubbles to the top. Then expel them by pressing the plunger. You can place the tip of the syringe to a piece of gauze. 

However, you can also expel the air bubbles through a vented tip cap, limiting the risk of blood contact. [1]

Effect of air bubbles in a blood gas sample

Air bubbles in blood gas samples may have a bias effect on the pO2 value. Depending on the initial pO2 value of the blood, the pO2 bias on blood gas results will be either positive or negative. The bias is often positive.

However, samples with high pO2 values can produce falsely lowered results because of the equilibration with the oxygen in the air bubble.

Effects on the patient and healthcare professionals

The presence of air bubbles in a blood gas sample can lead to wrong diagnosis. If false high or low pO2 is not recognized it may lead to errors when interpreting the results.

Additionally, if during the process of expelling air bubbles and blood into a piece of gauze there is contact with blood you may be exposed to blood-borne pathogen. You risk exposing yourself to blood-borne pathogens when expelling air without using vented safeTIPCAP.

Expel air bubbles from a blood gas sample

The vented safeTIPCAP forms a closed system, allowing you to expel air bubbles and minimizing the risk of blood exposure.

The vented safeTIPCAP helps to seal the sample to prevent contact with atmospheric air. The safeTIPCAP stays on during aspiration of blood into the Radiometer analyzer so you minimize the risk of blood contact.  

The safePICO arterial blood gas syringe with safeTIPCAP

Easily expel air bubbles from an arterial blood gas sample while limiting the risk of blood contact using the safeTIPCAP on the safePICO syringe. The vented safeTIPCAP helps seal the sample immediately after blood collection and stays on during blood gas analysis.

The safePICO syringe is designed to help you reduce the risk of preanalytical errors. In addition to help remove air bubbles safely from the sample, safePICO can help to reduce the risk of hemolysis due to mixing, needlestick injuries, a clotted blood sample, or patient-sample mix-up.

More information

References

1. Dukic L et al. Blood gas testing and related measurements: National recommendations on behalf of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine.
MAPSSS-000313 R2

Cookies are used on this website

Use of cookies
Don't show this message again
Confirm your account with Radiometer by entering your professional e-mail

Please enter a valid email

CONTINUE
By submitting your e-mail you agree to the data policy notice
Radiometer is using Microsoft Azure Active Directory to authenticate customer access. If you are already registered you will be taken to Microsoft AD to sign in using your Microsoft AD credentials.
You are already registered
SIGN IN
Radiometer is using Microsoft Azure AD to authenticate customer access. If you are already registered you will be taken to AZURE to sign in using your AZURE credentials.
Thank you

We will be sending an e-mail invitation to you shortly to sign in using Microsoft Azure AD.

CLOSE BANNER
Radiometer is using Microsoft Azure AD to authenticate customer access.
Sorry

It seems that your e-mail is not registered with us

TRY AGAIN CONTINUE
Radiometer is using Microsoft Azure AD to authenticate customer access. If your e-mail is not registered with us please click CONTINUE and we will guide you through the sign-in process.
We have previously sent an invitation by e-mail

Please click "Get started" in the e-mail to complete the registration process

RESEND E-MAIL
Radiometer is using Microsoft Azure AD to authenticate customer access.
Sorry

We were not able to process your request due to a communication error

TRY AGAIN
Sorry

It seems this account has not been given access to the portal

Continue

Radiometer is using Microsoft AZURE Active Directory to authenticate users

Radiometer uses Azure AD to provide our customers and partners secure access to documents, resources, and other services on our customer portal.

If your organization is already using Azure AD you can use the same credentials to access Radiometer's customer portal.

Key benefits

       
  • Allow the use of existing Active Directory credentials
    •    
  • Single-sign on experience
    •    
  • Use same credentials to access future services    

Request access

You will receive an invitation to access our services via e-mail when your request  has been approved.

When you accept the invitation, and your organization is already using AZURE AD, you can use the same credentials to access Radiometer's customer portal. Otherwise, a one-time password will be sent via e-mail to sign in.