
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an odorless, colorless gas. It is a waste product made by your body. Your blood carries carbon dioxide to your lungs. You breathe out carbon dioxide and breathe in oxygen all day, every day, without thinking about it. A CO2 blood test measures the amount of carbon dioxide in your blood. Too much or too little carbon dioxide in the blood can indicate a health problem.
Other names: carbon dioxide content, CO2 content, carbon dioxide blood test, bicarbonate blood test, bicarbonate test, total CO2; TCO2; carbon dioxide content; CO2 content; bicarb; HCO3
Your health care provider may have ordered a CO2 blood test as part of your regular checkup or if you have symptoms of an electrolyte imbalance. These include:
Abnormal results may indicate that your body has an electrolyte imbalance, or that there is a problem removing carbon dioxide through your lungs. Too much CO2 in the blood can indicate a variety of conditions including:
Too little CO2 in the blood may indicate:
If your test results are not in the normal range, it doesn't necessarily mean you have a medical condition requiring treatment. Other factors, including certain medicines, can affect the level of CO2 in your blood. To learn what your results mean, talk to your health care provider.
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