Blood Acid-Base Alignment Nomogram: Scales for pH, pCO₂, Base Excess of Whole Blood of Different Hemoglobin Concentrations, Plasma Bicarbonate, and Plasma Total-CO₂

Abstract

The blood acid-base status comprises the pH, pCO₂ and base excess values.

The alignment nomogram includes scales for these values together with scales for bicarbonate and total-CO₂ of plasma.

The nomogram is especially useful for calculation of base excess after direct measurement of pH, pCO₂ and hemoglobin concentration. The nomogram is also useful for calculation of both pCO₂ and base excess after direct measurement of pH, total-CO₂ of plasma and hemoglobin concentration.

The standard bicarbonate can also be calculated from the nomogram.