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Carbon Dioxide CO2 in Blood

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Carbon Dioxide CO2 in Blood
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Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in Blood

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

A CO2 blood test is often part of a series of tests called an electrolyte panel. Electrolytes help balance the levels of acids and bases in your body. Most of the carbon dioxide in your body is in the form of bicarbonate, which is a type of electrolyte. An electrolyte panel may part of a regular exam. The test may also help monitor or diagnose conditions related to an electrolyte imbalance. These include kidney diseases, lung diseases, and high blood pressure.

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:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Prolonged vomiting and/or diarrhea
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
You don't need any special preparations for a CO2 blood test or an electrolyte panel. If your health care provider has ordered more tests on your blood sample, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Your health care provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.

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:

  • Lung diseases
  • Disorders of the adrenal glands. Adrenal glands are located above the kidneys and help control heart rate, blood pressure, and other bodily functions.
  • Hormonal disorders
  • Kidney disorders
  • Alkalosis, a condition in which you have too much base in your blood

Too little CO2 in the blood may indicate:

  • Addison's disease, a condition in which your body's adrenal glands don't produce enough of certain types of hormones. The condition can cause a variety of symptoms including weakness, dizziness, weight loss, and dehydration.
  • Acidosis, a condition in which you have too much acid in your blood
  • Ketoacidosis, a complication of type 1 and type 2 diabetes
  • Shock
  • Kidney disorders

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.

  1. Hinkle J, Cheever K. Brunner & Suddarth's Handbook of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests. 2nd Ed, Kindle. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; c2014. Total Carbon Dioxide Content; p. 488.
  2. Lab Tests Online [Internet]. Washington D.C.: American Association for Clinical Chemistry; c2001–2017. Bicarbonate: The Test; [updated 2016 Jan 26; cited 2017 Mar 19]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/co2/tab/test
  3. Merck Manual Consumer Version [Internet]. Kenilworth (NJ): Merck & Co., Inc.; c2017. Addison Disease; [cited 2017 Mar 19]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/hormonal-and-metabolic-disorders/adrenal-gland-disorders/addison-disease
  4. Merck Manual Consumer Version [Internet]. Kenilworth (NJ): Merck & Co., Inc.; c2017. Overview of Acid-Base Balance; [cited 2017 Mar 19]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/hormonal-and-metabolic-disorders/acid-base-balance/overview-of-acid-base-balance
  5. National Cancer Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: adrenal gland; [cited 2017 Mar 19]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms?cdrid=46678
  6. National Cancer Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: carbon dioxide; [cited 2017 Mar 19]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms?cdrid=538147
  7. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Types of Blood Tests; [updated 2012 Jan 6; cited 2017 Mar 19]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/bdt/types
  8. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; What Are the Risks of Blood Tests?; [updated 2012 Jan 6; cited 2017 Mar 19]; [about 6 screens]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/bdt/risks
  9. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; What Do Blood Tests Show?; [updated 2012 Jan 6; cited 2017 Mar 19]; [about 7 screens]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/bdt/show
  10. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; What To Expect with Blood Tests; [updated 2012 Jan 6; cited 2017 Mar 19]; [about 5 screens]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/bdt/with
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in Blood

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