Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 51, Issue 4 1042-1046, Copyright © 1981 by American Physiological Society
Calculator/computer-assisted calibration and use of the IL-182 CO-Oximeter
S. E. Linberg, N. S. Deno and J. S. Britten
Of the many techniques and methods available for measuring carbon monoxide
in blood, one of the easiest involves the use of the IL-182 CO-Oximeter, a
specialized triple-wavelength spectrophotometer. Although easy to use, the
calibration procedure can be lengthy and impractical if performed routinely
to ensure accuracy. A method is described for an equivalent calibration by
using a programmable calculator or minicomputer. The new method allows
rapid and easy calibration as well as the analysis of unknown blood
samples. Three anticoagulated blood samples, each containing as little as 2
ml, are required to calibrate. One sample is chemically reduced, one is
tonometered in pure oxygen, and the third is tonometered in pure carbon
monoxide. The optical densities of these three known calibration samples,
determined at each of the three specific wavelengths used by the IL-182,
allow one to derive the constants used in the equations needed to solve for
an unknown sample.
