Arterial Blood Gases

How It Is Done

A sample of blood from an artery is usually taken from the inside of the wrist (radial artery), but it can also be collected from an artery in the groin (femoral artery) or on the inside of the arm above the elbow crease (brachial artery). You will be seated with your arm extended and your wrist resting on a small pillow. The health professional drawing the blood may rotate your hand back and forth and feel for a pulse in your wrist.

To prevent the possibility of damaging the artery of the wrist when the blood sample is taken, a procedure called the Allen test may be done to ensure that blood flow to your hand is normal. An arterial blood gas (ABG) test will not be done on an arm used for dialysis or if there is an infection or inflammation in the area of the puncture site.

The health professional taking a sample of your blood will:

• Clean the needle site with alcohol. You may be given an injection of local anesthetic to numb that area.
• Put the needle into the artery. More than one needle stick may be needed.
• Attach a tube to the needle to allow blood to fill the tube. Be sure to breathe normally while your blood is being collected.
• Put a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle site as the needle is removed.
• Put a bandage over the puncture site and apply firm pressure for 5 to 10 minutes (possibly longer if you take blood-thinning medication or have bleeding problems).

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Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated July 28, 2006
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Robert L. Cowie, MB, FCP(SA), MD, MSc, MFOM - Pulmonology
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