Potentiometric measurements of ionized calcium in anaerobic whole blood, plasma, and serum evaluated.

The measurements of ionized calcium and pH in paired samples of anaerobic capillary whole blood, venous whole blood, venous plasma, and venous serum have been evaluated with a modified ICA 1 analyzer and compared with those of an unmodified ICA 1 analyzer. The unmodified instrument showed a significant difference between measurements in anaerobic venous whole blood, venous plasma, and venous serum, but the modified instrument did not. Statistically significant differences between the two instruments were found for whole blood (magnitude of mean difference magnitude of = 0.053 mmol/L) and for venous serum (0.016 mmol/L), but not for venous plasma. The error of residual liquid junction potential due to blood cells, previously found in the unmodified ICA 1 (salt bridge: KCl, 2.68 mol/kg) was eliminated and independent of the erythrocyte volume fraction in the modified ICA 1 (salt bridge: sodium formate, 4.56 mol/kg). From studies of procedures for measurements of ionized calcium in anaerobically handled samples, we recommend the use of anaerobic whole blood for measuring ionized calcium.