Oxygen Content (Arterial Blood)
Info
Hemoglobin
unit g/dL g/L
Oxygen saturation arterial blood
unit % Fraction
Partial pressure of arterial oxygen
unit mmHg kPa
R e s u l t s
---
 
CaO2
 
Show Results
Info
Oxygen Content (Arterial Blood)

Oxygen content of arterial blood is the mL of Oxygen bound to 100 mL of Arterial 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 PaO 2 increases the amount of O 2 in arterial blood.

Dr. Gustav von Hüfner researched arterial 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:

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

Interpretation:

Normal Range: 16-22 ml O 2 /100 ml blood on Room Air

References:

  1. 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).
  2. Andrea Gabrielli, A. Joseph Layon, Mihae Yu eds. Hemodynamic Monitoring: Arterial and Pulmonary Artery Catheters. In: Civetta, Taylor, and Kirby's Manual of Critical Care. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2012.