Liquid excess anticoagulant effect leads to which change?

Liquid excess anticoagulant effect leads to which change?

• A. Decreased pH
• B. Decreased pCO2
• C. Increased pH
• D. Increased pCO2

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that excess liquid anticoagulant dilutes the blood sample. Dilution reduces the amount of dissolved CO2 in plasma, so the partial pressure of CO2 measured in the sample (pCO2) decreases. While dilution can also affect pH, the direct and best-described change from having too much liquid anticoagulant is a drop in pCO2.

The key idea is that excess liquid anticoagulant dilutes the blood sample. Dilution reduces the amount of dissolved CO2 in plasma, so the partial pressure of CO2 measured in the sample (pCO2) decreases. While dilution can also affect pH, the direct and best-described change from having too much liquid anticoagulant is a drop in pCO2.