AN ELECTROCHEMICAL TECHNIC FOR MEASURING CARBON DIOXIDE CONTENT OF BLOOD.
Abstract
An electrochemical technic for measuring carbon dioxide content in whole blood has been devised and evaluated. This technic has been extended to measure the Bunsen solubility coefficient of carbon dioxide. The method requires a membrane-covered pH electrode. The electrode incorporates tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane buffer in the isolated electrolyte and is covered with a Silastic membrane. These features provided good stability between readings which proved to be of advantage in carrying out the technic. Two-thirds of the full electrode response time was reached in 30 seconds. This electrode system permits rapid determinations of carbon dioxide content in blood samples of less than 1 ml. The measurement of carbon dioxide content is performed by hemolyzing and acidifying a blood sample in such a manner that the released carbon dioxide goes into physical solution. The increase of tension caused by this physically dissolved carbon dioxide is measured by exposing the sample to the previously calibrated electrode. Results obtained using this technic compare favorably with the Van Slyke manometric technic. While use of the technic apparently requires some compromise with accuracy (standard deviation of replicate samples = 0.76 vol. % compared with 0.12 vol. % for the Van Slyke), its convenience may outweigh this consideration in certain routine applications. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0651334
Entities
People
- J. Ryan Neville
- Robert J. Reyes
Organizations
- United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine