Objective: The use of different types of analyzers and samples lead to obtaining different test results.
This study aimed to investigate whether the test results yielded by conventional blood gas analyzer
(cBGA) are considered interchangeable with those produced by point-of-care blood gas (pBGA), clinical
chemistry (CCA), and hematology analyzers (HAA).
Material and Methods: pH, pCO2, pO2, sodium, potassium, ionized calcium, glucose, lactate, and
hemoglobin values determined on the cBGA (Radiometer ABL735) were compared with those of pBGA
(EPOC). Sodium, potassium, glucose, and hemoglobin levels obtained from the cBGA, CCA (Cobas 6000
c501), and HAA (ABX Pentra 80) were also compared with each other The agreement between the
results obtained from two analyzers (pBGA vs. cBGA, cBGA vs. CCA, and cBGA vs. HAA) was assessed
using the Bland-Altman method.
Results: The difference among pH, pO2, sodium, glucose, and hemoglobin results obtained from the
pBGA and cBGA were found to be greater than the total allowable error (TEa). The limits of agreement
of the pCO2 were close to the TEa limits. The 95% limits of agreement for sodium and potassium values
yielded by cBGA and CCA were found to have exceeded the limits, whereas those of the glucose were
close to the TEa limits. There was no significant bias between the hemoglobin values measured by the
cBGA and HAA.
Conclusion: There may be differences between the test results obtained from conventional and pointof-
care blood gas analyzers, as well as the test results measured in conventional blood gas and clinical
chemistry analyzers. To avoid potential misinterpretations, tests analyzed on different types of devices
and whose results are clinically different should be pointed out in patient result reports.