REDUCED BOVINE HEMOGLOBIN SOLUTION EVALUATED FOR USE AS A BLOOD-GAS QUALITY-CONTROL MATERIAL

We evaluated a new commercially available partially purified reduced b ovine hemoglobin solution (RBHS) and a new tonometer for use in the qu ality control of blood gas analyzers. RBHS is manufactured in three di fferent formulations, each corresponding to three different bicarbonat e-buffering capacities and concentrations of total hemoglobin (C(tHb)) . The P50 for each formulation of RBHS was determined to be as follows : 30.6 mmHg (4.08 kPa) for Level 1, 29.1 mmHg (3.88 kPa) for Level 2, and 28.2 mmHg (3.76 kPa) for Level 3. When RBHS and human blood sample s were tonometered at three clinically significant values Of PO2 and P CO2, the recovered values for PO2 and PCO2 in RBHS were comparable wit h those of the tonometered whole blood. Each level of RBHS also produc ed precise pH (SD less-than-or-equal-to 0.006 pH units) and c(tHb) (SD = 1.0 g/L) values. In addition, when the temperature of a sample cham ber was intentionally altered, the changes in RBHS blood gas values cl osely approximated the changes seen with human blood. RBHS shows more thermal sensitivity than either perfluorocarbon emulsions or aqueous b uffers, which are currently being used as quality-control and proficie ncy testing materials.