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The letter discusses the quality demands for arterial partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) and the lack of criteria available for defining necessary limits for bias and coefficient of variation (CV%). The authors propose quality specifications based on clinical judgments and known information on normal ranges. They suggest that the quality demands for arterial pO2 should include a bias of less than 0.2 kPa, a CV of less than 4%, and a total error of less than 0.5 kPa at levels below 5 kPa. These specifications have been implemented in their laboratories until more scientifically based data becomes available. [Extracted from the article]