Robert,

The GP should also consider the half-life of COHb with the patient breathing air (about 4 hours) as the level will begin to fall as soon as the patient leaves the area with suspected high CO levels. Ideally the blood sample should be taken in situ but in many cases the patient is seen in surgery some hours after exposure.

Ian Holbrook

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: Click Here
------ACB discussion List Information-------- This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical community working in clinical biochemistry. Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and they are responsible for all message content. ACB Web Site http://www.acb.org.uk List Archives http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html List Instructions (How to leave etc.) http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/