Thursday 9 November 2006

How do I test someone?


Bearing in mind the time limitations, testing for CO (or, more accurately, for the presence of COHb) is very useful to 'prove' exposure.
Probably the single most useful tool on the market is the CO-Oximeter. You can see the Rad 57 from Masimo by clicking on this link.
If you are hospital-based, you can also take blood for 'blood gas analysis', making sure your analyser is set to measure for COHb. You do not have to take an aterial sample. COHb is not significantly different in arterial or venous samples, so just take a venous (or capillary) sample in a suitably anticoagulated collector, and measure that.
There are also breath meters like those from Bedfont available. Originally developed to help people give up smoking, but can usefully screen for COHb, especially in the home setting.

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