A fundamental concern of critical care medicine is the threat to the basic life process-gas exchange. Arterial blood gas analysis not only reflects the state of the basic life process but also reflects the end ´result of the supportive therapeutic modalities. Therefore, significant therapeutic decisions are commonly influenced by these laboratory tests, thus placing overwhelming responsibility on all associated with the laboratory, physician, nurse, respiratory care practitioners to assure accurate and reliable results. Blood gas samples are highly susceptible to preanalytic error due to improper methods of obtaining and handling the sample and incomplete recording . the slip prior to delivery to the laboratory.
The object of this study is two-fold: one, to evaluate recording status on the arterial blood gas request slip and two, to interprete the acid-base status and the effectiveness of oxygen therapy.
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