Carbon Dioxide, Blood

Carbon Dioxide measurements are used in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous potentially serious disorders associated with changes in body acid-base balance.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the normal waste product of respiration. When cells produce energy, CO2 is a byproduct that is formed. This CO2 diffuses out of the cell into the interstitial fluid and eventually to the blood. In the blood, it can be dissolved in plasma or carried by the red blood cells to the lungs where it will eventually be breathed out. Sometimes, there is a disruption in the mechanism of getting rid of CO2. This is dangerous, as CO2 contributes to the pH balance of blood and the fluids in the body by making things more acidic. If there is too much CO2, it can cause the blood to be acidic, causing cells to die. This test is typically done in an arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis.

This test is performed in following conditions such as:

• Shortness of breath
• Nausea and vomiting
• Respiratory, metabolic, or kidney disease
• Difficulty breathing or respiratory distress

Also Known As: CO2, Carbon Dioxide Total