Because of an Extremely Low PO₂, You Suspect That an Arterial

question 79

Multiple Choice

Because of an extremely low PO₂, you suspect that an arterial blood sample taken from a patient's brachial artery might have been contaminated with venous blood. Which of the following might help to confirm your suspicion?

• A) Call the laboratory resources/staff to get the latest chemistry report.
• B) Inspect the sample for color and consistency.
• C) Cross-check the sample with an SpO₂ reading.
• D) Measure the sample's actual hemoglobin saturation.