US Medical Term · tests
Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)
Gases en sangre arterial
Also: Gasometría arterial (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) |
| Spanish (Español) | Gases en sangre arterial |
| Chinese (中文) | 動脈血氣分析 |
| Korean (한국어) | 동맥혈 가스 분석 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Xét nghiệm khí máu động mạch |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Arterial Blood Gas |
| Portuguese (Português) | Gasometria arterial |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การตรวจแก๊สในเลือดแดง |
| Japanese (日本語) | 動脈血ガス分析 |
What it means
An arterial blood gas (ABG) test measures the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH in blood drawn directly from an artery — usually the radial artery in your wrist. Unlike routine blood draws from a vein, the ABG provides a real-time picture of how well your lungs are exchanging gases and whether your blood is too acidic or too alkaline. Results are available within minutes. Doctors order ABGs in emergency settings for patients with breathing difficulties, severe asthma, COPD exacerbations, overdoses, or after major surgeries. The draw is more uncomfortable than a regular blood draw and may cause brief sharp pain or bruising at the wrist.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
Why did the nurse take blood from my wrist instead of my arm for this gas test?
¿Por qué la enfermera tomó sangre de mi muñeca en lugar de mi brazo para esta prueba de gases?
What do the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in my arterial blood gas mean?
¿Qué significan los niveles de oxígeno y dióxido de carbono en mi gasometría arterial?
Is the arterial blood gas draw more painful than a regular blood test?
¿La extracción de sangre arterial es más dolorosa que un análisis de sangre regular?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026