My doctor took blood and when I got the bill it said test blood oxygen level. Please tell me what he tested.?

Answer 1

The previous poster is incorrect about the clothespin device. It is called a pulse oximeter (or "pulse ox") and it checks the hemoglobin saturation. We *assume* it's saturated with oxygen, but it could be saturated with other things including carbon monoxide. The only way to accurately check oxygen levels is by taking blood.

The blood test for checking oxygen level is called an ABG (arterial blood gas). A larger needle is used than for a regular blood test, and it does usually hurt more. The most common site used is the inside of the wrist, but the inside of the elbow is not uncommon either.

Were you seeing your doctor for breathing problems? Most ABGs done during or after an office visit are for people with COPD (emphysema, asthma, and others.) It actually checks multiple levels in the blood - Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide, primarily. It tells the doctors several things about your lungs and possibly your kidneys.

When people have ABGs drawn in the context of emphysema or other breathing disorders, the doctor is looking at two things: Whether you need oxygen, and how severe the disease is.

I encourage you to schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor to discuss the blood test and results. He should be clearer with you about what tests he's prescribing and why; please ask him for the answers.

Answer 2

If your blood was drawn from your arm as in a normal blood test, then an error was made when the person wrote down the number code for what you had done.

To determine your blood oxygen level they put a thing on your fore finger that resembles an old fashioned clothespin. It is attached to a machine that records your oxygen level in your blood stream. The numbers are from 1 to 100. The closer to 100, the better.

The other test for oxygen is to check your blood gases. They do that with a needle in your wrist. It is nothing like a regular blood test. And if the person doing it is not good, you will feel pain like you never felt before. If they are good, you don't feel a thing.

So, now you should know what you had done & didn't have done.

Answer 3

Unless there was a billing error, it mean he had your blood oxygen saturation level checked (your blood should be carrying a certain amount of oxygen- sometimes if you are anemic or have been exposed to things such as carbon monoxide this level will be low and indicate a problem) Btw- I work in a hospital lab

Answer 4

you will have to ask the doctor, billling departments use all sorts of strange codes for their billiing.