Carboxyhemoglobin and oxygen affinity of human blood.

We determined normal human blood p50 at various pH values (range 7.0 to 7.6) as a function of the proportion of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) in total hemoglobin, from 0 to 23%. The d(log p50)/d[COHb] coefficient is 0.00848, independent of pH and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. The derived equation allows the calculation of p50 as a function of COHb with an approximation of +/- 0.54 mmHg (about 72 Pa), and can be combined with other calculations (Clin Chem 27:1856-1861, 1981; Clin Chem 29:110-114, 1983) to predict p50 under any condition of pH within the range 7.0-7.6, ratio of [2,3-diphosphoglycerate] to [total hemoglobin] (range 0.3-2.5), pCO2 (range 20-90 mmHg), temperature (range 19-43 degrees C), and COHb (range 0-23%).