ABSTRACT

This chapter deals mainly with the measurement of oxygen related to health and critical-care applications, with limited descriptions of noncritical health status measurements. Current healthcare professionals use a variety of common analytical measurements to assess and maintain a person’s health. Most blood chemistry measurements have a long history. Blood contains many components, but hemoglobin is the main transporter of oxygen to tissue. Most blood chemistry analysis measurements are derived from one of two methods: electrochemical and optical. Measurements are listed in one of four categories, invasive or noninvasive measurements and continuous or periodic measurements. There are typically several measurement techniques that yield the same or similar data. Oxygen tension or the partial pressure of oxygen is a common measure of oxygenation states. Partial pressure and oxygen saturation are not always true indicators of actual tissue oxygen consumption. Measurements can be performed polarographically using Clark electrodes or alternatively by mass spectroscopy.