EFFECT OF EXTRA AMOUNT OF HEPARIN IN SYRINGE AND ITS EFFECT ON ARTERIAL BLOOD GAS ANALYSIS

Ashutosh Kumar, Supriya Kushwah and Shambhavi Sahay

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To determine the effect of dilution of heparin on several parameters of arterial blood gas analysis in normal healthy subjects. Methods: We compared arterial blood gas analysis in 2 samples of blood, 1st glass syringe flushed with heparin and 2nd glass syringe consisted of 0.2ml of heparin collected from 20 healthy subjects. Results: In the present study in sample-2, we observed a significant increase in the levels of PO2 (208.5±33.6), pH (7.49±0.039) when compared to sample-1 PO2 (88.85±6.22) and pH (7.4±0.041), with p-value<0.0001 in both. In sample -2 values of PCO2 (16.17±2.21), HCO3 (12.97±2.09) were significantly low when compared to sample-1 PCO2 (40.26±3.22) and HCO3 (24.55±1.59) with p-value of <0.0001 in both parameters. Values of oxygen saturation were also measured but there was no significant difference. Conclusions: Amount of heparin is an important variable factor for arterial blood gas analysis sampling. Extra amount of heparin can cause alteration in pH, PO2, PCO2, HCO3, electrolytes and other parameters. Syringes should be flushed with heparin or should contain less than 0.1ml of heparin while analysis.

Keywords: Heparin, Arterial blood gas analysis.