HealthWise KnowledgeBase
Arterial Blood Gases
Why It Is Done
An arterial blood gas (ABG) test is done to:
- Check for severe breathing problems and lung diseases, such as Reference asthma Opens New Window, Reference cystic fibrosis Opens New Window, or Reference chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Opens New Window.
- See how well treatment for lung diseases is working.
- Find out if you need extra oxygen or help with breathing (mechanical ventilation).
- Find out if you are receiving the right amount of oxygen when you are using oxygen in the hospital.
- Measure the acid-base level in the blood of people who have Reference heart failure Opens New Window, Reference kidney failure Opens New Window, uncontrolled Reference diabetes Opens New Window, sleep disorders, severe infections, or after a drug overdose.
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