When a blood gas specimen is left exposed to air, which change occurs in PO2?

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Study for the Ciulla Clinical Chemistry Test. Enhance your knowledge with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Prepare for the exam with comprehensive study materials and detailed explanations for each question.

Multiple Choice

When a blood gas specimen is left exposed to air, which change occurs in PO2?

Explanation:
Exposure of a blood gas sample to air allows oxygen to diffuse into the sample because the ambient air has a higher partial pressure of oxygen than the blood. This diffusion raises the dissolved oxygen in the sample, so the measured PO2 increases. This diffusion happens until the gas in the sample equilibrates with the surrounding air, often accompanied by CO2 diffusing out, but the key point for PO2 is the influx of O2 from air leading to an elevated reading.

Exposure of a blood gas sample to air allows oxygen to diffuse into the sample because the ambient air has a higher partial pressure of oxygen than the blood. This diffusion raises the dissolved oxygen in the sample, so the measured PO2 increases. This diffusion happens until the gas in the sample equilibrates with the surrounding air, often accompanied by CO2 diffusing out, but the key point for PO2 is the influx of O2 from air leading to an elevated reading.

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