Test Guide | Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand Waikato Laboratory Website

Laboratory Information

Test Name

Base excess (Blood Gas)

Specimen Collection

Adult Specimen

1.0 ml blood in an adult blood gas syringe or 0.5 ml in a paediatric blood gas syringe

Specimen Collection and Transport Protocols

Remove at least 3 ml of blood to waste prior to collecting the blood sample from a line. Must be analysed within 30 minutes of collection.

Paediatric Specimen

0.5 ml blood in a paediatric blood gas syringe

Test Information

Department

Biochemistry and POCT

Test Availability

Mon - Sun, 24hrs

Laboratory Turnaround Time

30 minutes

Method

Blood gas analyser

Unit of measurement

mmol/L

Reference interval

-2 to +2 mmol/L

Cord Blood (arterial & venous) -12 - +2 mmol/L

Minimum Volume

0.3 ml collected into a paediatric blood gas syringe

Electronic Information

Registration Code

HL7 mapping code

$BE

LOINC Code

11555-0

Laboratory Test Reference Guide