CO2

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Ok so quick question I know CO2 usually is about 21-33 for a venous blood draw. Is someone with a 19 an issue? If so, what would would be the possible causes in an otherwisehealthy 26 y/o pt?

Thx

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Specializes in VA-BC, CRNI.

Is the patient doing ok? Is this something normal for them?

Maybe nothing is wrong with them.

Not everyone will fit into the WNL category. Look at the patient and use the labs to form a total picture. It is hard to make a judgment on a patient based upon a single lab that is really not that bad.

Ask yourself why are they in the hospital in the first place and if that can cause the lab in question vs here is a lab...figure out what is wrong. Easier to do it that way.

Also refer to this post

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/low-co2-what-318600.html

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

One data value out of the blue is meaningless without the rest of the clinical picture.

This data value is only 10% below typical.

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