ABSTRACT
Blood gases The normal blood tests performed in a GP’s surgery or hospital to test haematological and biochemical values are taken from a patient’s veins. Blood gas measurement is made from a sample taken from the patient’s artery in a heparinised syringe (to prevent the blood clotting). The taking of such a sample is painful because of the nerves running in the arterial wall and, thus, is not unduly popular with the patient. The samples are normally taken from the radial artery at the wrist.
