Oxygen content of venous blood is the mL of Oxygen bound to 100 mL of venous blood.

This oxygen content relates to the Hemoglobin (Hgb) content, as 1.36 mL of Oxygen can bind to each gram of Hgb. Additionally, as oxygen is dissolved in solution, the PvO(2) increases the amount of O(2) in venous blood.

Dr. Gustav von Hüfner researched venous blood's oxygen content in the 1800's; finding 1.34 mL O(2)/gram of hgb.  This has been modified slightly by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) to 1.36 mL O(2)/gram of hgb in vitro.

The formula used is:

• CvO(2)= (Hgb*1.36*SvO2/100)+PvO2*0.0031
• CvO(2) = Oxygen content in mL per 100 mL venous blood
• Hgb = Hemoglobin in g/dL
• 1.36 = Hüfner's constant of O(2) in mL bound to 1 gram of Hgb
• SvO(2) = Oxygen saturation venous blood in %
• PvO(2) = Partial pressure of venous oxygen in mmHg
• 0.0031 = mL of O(2) that dissolves in 100 mL of solution per mmHg of PaO(2)

Interpretation:

NormalRange: 13-16 ml O2/100 ml blood on Room Air

Reference:

Toben B. Pitfalls in the Measurement and Interpretation of Hemoglobin, Oxyhemoglobin Saturation and Oxygen Content in Point-of-Care Devices. RT for Decision Makers in Respiratory Care. 2008;21(1). Available at http://www.itcmed.com/documents/MVOX15_0108.pdf [last accessed 15 June 2008]