Bicarbonate
Sample: Cold Blood. See Instructions here
Schedule: Daily
Units: pCO2
Range: (Arterial Blood Gases)
Remarks: Total CO2 consists of CO2 in solution or bound to proteins, HCO3-, CO32-, and H2CO3. In practice, 80% to 90% is present as bicarbonate (HCO3-). "Hypercapnia" means excessive carbon dioxide in the blood. Impaired elimination of CO2 reflects interaction of abnormalities in respiratory drive, the muscles of respiration, and the function of the lung. These and other aspects of pulmonary gas exchange, ventilation and their consequences are addressed as the partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide, pCO2, a part of Arterial Blood Gases
