Arterial blood gas interpretation worksheet with answers

Free printable Arterial blood gas interpretation worksheet: 6 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy
pH7.357.457.62PaCO₂mmHg354542HCO₃⁻mmol/L222642respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.62, PaCO₂ 42 mmHg (5.6 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 42 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.62PaCO₂ 42 mmHg (5.6 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 42 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy

Practice values: Na⁺ 137, K⁺ 4.6, Cl⁻ 106 and HCO₃⁻ 10 mmol/L. Calculate the anion gap AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻), without potassium.

Na⁺ 137 mmol/LK⁺ 4.6 mmol/LCl⁻ 106 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 10 mmol/L
AG = mmol/L
3.Medium

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis with HCO₃⁻ 14 mmol/L. Use Winter’s formula to find the expected PaCO₂ (the centre of the range) in mmHg.

HCO₃⁻ 14 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
4.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 150 mmol/L, glucose 17 mmol/L and urea 22.4 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 150 mmol/Lglucose 17 mmol/Lurea 22.4 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
5.Hard

Practice values: Na⁺ 135, Cl⁻ 112, HCO₃⁻ 14 mmol/L and albumin 36 g/L. Find the albumin-corrected anion gap AGc = AG + 0.25·(40 − albumin).

Na⁺ 135 mmol/LCl⁻ 112 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 14 mmol/Lalbumin 36 g/L
AGc = mmol/L
6.Hard

Practice values: Na⁺ 141, Cl⁻ 99 and HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L. Calculate the delta ratio (AG − 12)/(24 − HCO₃⁻), using AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻). Give two decimals.

Na⁺ 141 mmol/LCl⁻ 99 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L
delta ratio =

Answer key

  1. 1. metabolic alkalosis
  2. 2. AG = 21 mmol/L
  3. 3. PaCO₂ = 29 mmHg
  4. 4. Osm = 339 mOsm/kg
  5. 5. AGc = 10 mmol/L
  6. 6. delta ratio = 1.667

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