Measuring serum sodium levels using blood gas analyzer and auto analyzer in heart and lung disease patients: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

Emergency services require precise and rapid measurement of electrolytes to initiate treatment. Blood gas analyzers (BGA) analyzes blood samples in seconds however, its accuracy is still debatable. The aim of this study was to compare the level of serum sodium measured through BGA and auto analyzer in the laboratory analyzers.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed on 79 patients with heart and lung disease in the intensive care unit of the center. Patient information was recorded along with serum sodium levels measured through BGA and auto analyzer in the laboratory.

RESULTS

The mean sodium level measured by BGA was 138.38 mEq/L and by auto analyzer was 137.42 mEq/L. The difference was statistically significant, p = 0.007. Among lung disease patients, the mean sodium levels from BGA and autoanalyzer did not differ significantly p = 0.052 where in patients with heart disease, these levels were 138.54 mEq/L and 137.23 mEq/L, respectively. The difference was significantly different, p = 0.015. Acidic pH measured using BGA and autoanalyzer also differed significantly, p = 0.006.

CONCLUSION

Blood gas analyzer method has a high correlation with laboratory analyzer, but in cases of hypernatremia, the accuracy of blood gas analyzer method decreases and especially in acidosis and in patients with pulmonary problems, the difference with laboratory method increases.