what does a low carbon dioxide blood test mean?

Answer 1

if it is a low ph it means that the patient is in dka (diabetic ketoacidosis) if the ph is normal it means the patient is just hyperventilating

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

A carbon dioxide test measures the total amount of the three forms of carbon dioxide (bicarbonate, carbonic acid, and dissolved carbon dioxide) in your blood. This test is also called a total carbon dioxide or TCO2 test.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a gaseous waste product made from metabolism. The blood carries carbon dioxide to your lungs, where it is exhaled. More than 90% of carbon dioxide in your blood exists in the form of bicarbonate (HCO3). The remainder of the carbon dioxide is either dissolved carbon dioxide gas (CO2) or carbonic acid (H2CO3).

Your kidneys and lungs regulate the levels of carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, and carbonic acid in the blood.

The value for total carbon dioxide can indicate:

The ability of your lungs to release carbon dioxide.
The function of your kidneys.
Metabolic problems.
The ability of your body to maintain a normal blood pH.
This test is usually done at the same time as arterial blood gases.

Why It Is Done

A carbon dioxide test is often done as part of a group of laboratory blood tests (chemistry screen) to help determine the cause of many kinds of symptoms. It is often done to evaluate breathing problems.

How To Prepare

No special preparation is needed before having this test.

How It Is Done

The health professional drawing blood will:

Wrap an elastic band around your upper arm to stop the flow of blood. This makes the veins below the band larger so it is easier to put a needle into the vein.
Clean the needle site with alcohol.
Put the needle into the vein. More than one needle stick may be needed.
Attach a tube to the needle to fill it with blood.
Remove the band from your arm when enough blood is collected.
Apply a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle site as the needle is removed.
Apply pressure to the site and then a bandage.
How It Feels

You may feel nothing at all from the needle puncture, or you may feel a brief sting or pinch as the needle goes through the skin. Some people feel a stinging pain while the needle is in the vein. However, many people do not feel any pain (or have only minor discomfort) once the needle is positioned in the vein. The amount of pain you feel depends on the skill of the person drawing the blood, the condition of your veins, and your sensitivity to pain.

Risks

Blood test
There is very little risk of complications from having blood drawn from a vein.

You may develop a small bruise at the puncture site. You can reduce the risk of bruising by keeping pressure on the site for several minutes after the needle is withdrawn.
Rarely, the vein may become inflamed after the blood sample is taken. This condition is called phlebitis and is usually treated with a warm compress applied several times daily.
Continued bleeding can be a problem for people with bleeding disorders. Aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), and other blood-thinning medications can also make bleeding more likely. If you have bleeding or clotting problems, or if you take blood-thinning medication, tell your health professional before your blood is drawn.
Results

A carbon dioxide test measures the total amount of the three forms of carbon dioxide (bicarbonate, carbonic acid, and dissolved carbon dioxide) in your blood.

Answer 5

If you took the test and your CO2 levels are LOW, it means you DON'T have emphysema or other lung damage.

If you mean what does the test do, it measures how efficiently your body is getting rid of CO2 produced from daily activity.