A blood test that measures the carbon dioxide absorbed at a given pressure and temperature; done in respiratory and other problems.
The amount of carbon dioxide that the blood can hold in chemical combination. C02 in aqueous solution forms carbonic acid; the amount of this acid that the serum can take up is a measure of its reserve power to prevent acidosis. The normal amount is 50 to 70 ml/dl of blood (usually expressed as 50 to 70 vol%). Values below 50 indicate acidosis; above 70, alkalosis.