title: How reliable are electrolyte and metabolite results measured by a blood gas analyzer in the ED?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blood gas analysis is a frequently ordered test in emergency departments for many indications. It is a rapid technique that can analyze electrolyte and metabolites in addition to pH and blood gases. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of electrolyte and metabolite results measured by blood gas and core laboratory analyzers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, single-center observational study conducted in a tertiary care center's emergency department. All adult patients requiring arterial/venous blood gas analysis and core laboratory tests together for any purpose were consecutively included in the study between April 2014 and July 2015. Patients younger than 16 years, having any intravenous infusion or blood transfusion prior to sampling, or who were pregnant were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1094 patients' (male = 547, female = 547) paired blood samples were analyzed. The mean age was 58.10 ± 21.35 years, and there was no difference between arterial and venous sampling groups by age, pH, or sex (P = .93, .56, and .41, respectively). Correlation coefficients for hemoglobin, hematocrit, glucose, potassium, sodium, and chloride levels measured by blood gas analyzer and core laboratory analyzers were 0.922, 0.896, 0.964, 0.823, 0.854, and 0.791, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blood gas analysis results were strongly correlated for hemoglobin, hematocrit, glucose, potassium, and sodium levels but were only moderately correlated for chloride levels. These parameters as measured by a blood gas analyzer seem reliable in critical decision making but must be validated by core laboratory results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, Bağcılar Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Bağcılar, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: eminuysal79@mynet.com.
authors.forename: Emin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Etimesgut Military Hospital, Etimesgut Asker Hastanesi, Etimesgut, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: yahya_acar@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Yahya Ayhan
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, Bağcılar Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Bağcılar, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: ahmetkutur@mynet.com.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kutur
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Van Military Hospital, Van Askeri Hastanesi, Altıntepe, Van, Turkey. Electronic address: cevikerdem@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cevik
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Etimesgut Military Hospital, Etimesgut Asker Hastanesi, Etimesgut, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: dr_necatisalman@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Necati
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salman
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Etimesgut Military Hospital, Etimesgut Asker Hastanesi, Etimesgut, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: dr.onurtezel@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tezel
mesh_terms: D001784:Blood Gas Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002712:Chlorides / Q000097:blood; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002712:Chlorides; D004573:Electrolytes; D006454:Hemoglobins; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium