Impact of different sampling and storage procedures on stability of acid/base parameters in venous blood samples.

Recommended sample handling and pre-analytical factors that impact the stability of ABG-samples are well documented [[3]] and are likely interchangeable in with VBG-samples if factors related to oxygen stability are ignored. Six out of the eight laboratories with published procedures for VBG-testing opted to use evacuated lithium-heparin tubes instead of recommended air-tight blood gas syringes (BGS), and two out of eight laboratories stored VBG-samples on ice. Accordingly, we undertook a study investigating the stability of the acid/base parameters pH, pCO SB 2 sb , cHCO SB 3 sb SP - sp , and lactate in VBG-samples at room temperature vs. ice and BGS vs. lithium-heparin tubes. [Extracted from the article]