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LyoHep‑BloodGas™
Glass or plastic — each engineered for optimal blood gas sampling. Lyophilized heparin ensures reliable anticoagulation and true ion balance. Fast wicking, safe handling, and consistent results.
Capillary Blood Gas – When Arterial Access Is Difficult
Key limitation: Capillary blood is a mixture of arterial, venous, and interstitial fluid. To obtain results that approximate arterial blood, the site must be “arterialized” — warmed to increase blood flow and dilate capillaries.
Preanalytical Risks & Clotting
Capillary blood gas sampling increases the risk of preanalytical errors compared to venous or arterial draws, especially in small infants. Clotting is a frequent cause of sample rejection — in one large NICU study, clotted samples occurred in 3.8% of all blood draws and were most often associated with needle or IV cannula use.
Neonatal blood has higher hemoglobin (18–19 g/dL) and unstable coagulation factors, making rapid anticoagulation essential. LyoHep-BloodGas™ tubes contain lyophilized heparin that dissolves instantly upon blood contact, minimizing clot risk without requiring manual mixing.
Arterialization – Making Capillary Blood Reflect Arterial Values
“Arterialization” is the process of warming the puncture site to induce vasodilation and increase blood flow. It transforms capillary blood into a sample that closely approximates arterial blood for pH and pCO₂.
- Heel warming: Warm the heel with a moist towel or chemical warmer at 40–45 °C for 5–10 minutes before puncture.
- Earlobe method: In older children and adults, the warmed earlobe provides the best correlation with arterial pO₂.
- Fingertip: Not recommended for pO₂ assessment — poor agreement with arterial values.
Meta‑analysis (Zavorsky et al., 2007): Arterialized capillary blood from earlobe accurately reflects arterial pH and pCO₂ across wide clinical ranges (pH 6.77–7.74, pCO₂ 10–114 mmHg). Earlobe capillary pO₂ may be acceptable when precision is not required; fingertip is not reliable for pO₂.
Proper warming and technique yield pH and pCO₂ values that correlate well with arterial blood. However, pO₂ from capillary samples should be interpreted with caution.
LyoHep‑BloodGas™ Glass
Superior wettability · Fire‑polished ends
Glass naturally provides excellent hydrophilicity, enabling fast and complete filling without hesitation. Each glass capillary is fire‑polished at both ends – a high‑temperature treatment that melts microscopic irregularities, creating an edge as smooth as jade. This eliminates the risk of fingertip lacerations and reduces tube breakage during sealing.
- ✔ Fire‑polished, chip‑free ends
- ✔ Optimal surface for rapid wicking
- ✔ Low oxygen permeability → preserves anaerobic conditions
- ✔ Preferred for research & reference methods
LyoHep‑BloodGas™ Plastic (PET)
Hydrophilic coating · Break‑resistant
Plastic capillary tubes eliminate shattering risk, but untreated PET is hydrophobic – blood does not flow smoothly. MeterOmega applies a proprietary hydrophilic surface treatment that transforms the inner wall into a low‑contact‑angle, fast‑wicking surface. The result: glass‑like filling speed without the fragility.
- ✔ Hydrophilic coating ensures rapid, complete fill
- ✔ No breakage or sharp fragments – safer for busy NICUs
- ✔ Flexible and lightweight
- ✔ Ideal for point‑of‑care and prehospital use
LyoHep‑BloodGas™ Capillary Tube – Non‑Sterile
| REF | Material | Volume (μL) | Diameter (mm) | Length (mm) | Units per Bottle |
| 178200 | PET | 165 | 1.95 | 125 | 250 |
| 178210 | PET | 135 | 1.95 | 100 | 250 |
| 178230 | PET | 120 | 1.95 | 86.5 | 250 |
| 178650 | Glass | 165 | 2.0 | 100 | 250 |
| 178670 | Glass | 140 | 2.0 | 86.5 | 250 |
| 178690 | Glass | 120 | 2.0 | 73.5 | 250 |
LyoHep‑BloodGas™ Capillary Tube – Sterile (individually pouched)
| REF | Material | Volume (μL) | Diameter (mm) | Length (mm) | Units per Pouch |
| 174200 | PET | 165 | 1.95 | 125 | 1 |
| 174210 | PET | 135 | 1.95 | 100 | 1 |
| 174230 | PET | 120 | 1.95 | 86.5 | 1 |
| 174650 | Glass | 165 | 2.0 | 100 | 1 |
| 174670 | Glass | 140 | 2.0 | 86.5 | 1 |
| 174690 | Glass | 120 | 2.0 | 73.5 | 1 |
Customization & Bulk Orders: Available in alternative lengths, volumes, and private labeling. Non‑sterile bulk bottles or sterile individual pouches. For custom configurations, contact our OEM/ODM team at info@metermega.com.
References & Further Reading
- Evans DL, Volsko TA, Capellari E, Strickland SL. AARC Clinical Practice Guidelines: Capillary Blood Gas Sampling for Neonatal and Pediatric Patients. Respir Care. 2022;67(9):1190-1204. PMID: 36002161.
- Zavorsky GS, Cao J, Mayo NE, et al. Arterial versus capillary blood gases: a meta‑analysis. Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2007;155(3):268-279. PMID: 17324626.
- Folk LA. Guide to capillary heelstick blood sampling in infants. Adv Neonatal Care. 2007;7(4):171-178. PMID: 17700114.
- CLSI GP42‑A6: Procedures and Devices for the Collection of Diagnostic Capillary Blood Specimens, 6th Edition.
- IFCC “A primer of Point of Care Blood Gas Testing for laboratorians”, 2018.
- CLSI C46‑A2, Blood Gas and pH Analysis and Related Measurements; Approved Guideline—Second Edition.
MeterOmega Medical Wuhan LTD
Address: NO.23-1-3 Gezhouba Suncity, GaoXin 4th road, East Lake development zone, Wuhan, China.
Tel: +86 (0) 27 6552 4498
Email: info@meteromega.com
Website: www.meteromega.com.cn
Hubei MeterOmega Technology LTD.
1F&2F, Building 3, Biomedical industrial Park, Jianqiu 5th Road, Duodao District, 448000, Jingmen City, Hubei Province, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
METER OMEGA CO., LTD.
Address: 1/126 Venis Di Iris, Soi Vatcharapol2/7, Tharaeng, Bangken Dist, Bangkok,10220,Thailand
Tel: +66962837333