In health plasma ionized calcium concentration (iCa) is maintained within the approximate reference range of 1.15-1.30 mmol/L (4.6-5.2 mg/dL) principally by the synergistic action of two hormones: parathyroid hormone (PTH) and the vitamin D-derived hormone, calcitriol.  Hypercalcemia (increased blood calcium),...

This article discusses the use of citrate anticoagulation during continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRTs) which are prescribed for patients with severe acute kidney injury (AKI). Where heparin was traditionally the anticoagulant of choice for CRRT, regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) has now emerged as the...

Reprinted with permission from Biochemia Medica. The journal of Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine. Biochemia Medica 2016;26(3):318-36  Blood gas analysis (BGA) is exposed to risks of errors caused by improper sampling, transport and storage conditions. The Clinical and Laboratory...

This article demonstrates that adding a lot of patients without disease and with low test results to a study may improve the ROC curve significantly without any improvement in sensitivity or in positive predictive value of the parameter evaluated. The precision-recall curves are not impacted by the addition of...

Blood gas analysis involves three measurements: blood pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide in blood plasma (pCO₂) and partial pressure of oxygen in blood plasma (pO₂). The first two, pH and pCO₂ along with other derived (calculated) parameters (bicarbonate, base excess) generated during blood gas analysis allow...

In health plasma potassium concentration is maintained within the approximate reference range of 3.5-5.2 mmol/L, so that hypokalemia (reduced plasma potassium) is defined as plasma potassium < 3.5 mmol/L.  Mild hypokalemia (plasma potassium in the range of 3.0-3.5 mmol/L) is a common electrolyte disturbance that may or ...

The blood gas analyzer has an established role in the delivery suite of obstetric units. Measurement of umbilical cord blood pH and base excess provides objective evidence of the metabolic condition of newborn babies at the moment of birth.  Specifically, it allows identification of those with significant metabolic...

Nationwide harmonization of clinical laboratory practice is a stated strategic goal of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CSMBLM). In 2013, a CSMBLM working group conducted a nationwide survey of all aspects of blood gas testing practice in Croatian hospital laboratories.  This...

This article evaluates venous blood as an alternative to arterial blood for lactate measurement, highlighting the general considerations related to each of the three types of venous blood which can be used for lactate measurement: peripheral venous blood, central venous blood and mixed venous blood.

It is commonplace for clinical staff tasked with blood sample collection to ask patients to make a fist before venipuncture; it reportedly helps by making veins more visible. Patients may also be asked to maintain a clenched fist during the procedure. This practice of ”fist clenching” is sanctioned in phlebotomy...