BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGEThe City University of New York

LABORATORY INDICATIONS OF ACID-BASE IMBALANCE

SIGN NORMAL INTERPRETATION

pH 7.35-7.45 Less than 7.35 —>acidosisMore than 7.45 —>alkalosis

PaCO2 35-45 mm Hg Less than 35 —>respiratory alkalosisMore than 45 —>respiratory acidosis

BICARBONATE(HCO3-)

22-26 mEq/L Less than 22 —> metabolic acidosisMore than 26 —> metabolic alkalosis

BASEEXCESS/DEFICIT

+2 to -2 mEq/L Less than -2 —> metabolic acidosisMore than +2 —>metabolic alkalosis

OXYGENSATURATION(THE AMOUNTOF HEMOGLOBINCOMBINED WITHOXYGEN)

95-98%

PaO2 80 to 100 mm Hg May be greater than 100 if patient ison oxygen and less than 75 if thereis a pulmonary problem.

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