Question:
How is it done?

Can anyone explain the procedure for the blood gas test?    — April B. (posted on March 29, 2001)

March 29, 2001
A very small needle is placed into an artery (usually the place on the inside of your wrist where you can feel your pulse). A tiny amount of blood is withdrawn and analyzed to primarily determine the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your bloodstream. It is a briefly uncomfortable, but not terribly painful, test.
   — Diana T.

September 30, 2004
are u kidding me...uncomfortable..it is VERY painful..they stuck me 4 times..never got the blood..i almost passed out..i broke out in a sweat and got nauseas...im fighting now to not have to take it...
   — LiL Vanilla *.

September 30, 2004
for me personally, I have had blood gasses several times and it was no more painful than any other blood draw I have had.
   — **willow**

September 30, 2004
I used to draw blood gasses and I can say this test is painful. I always told people it was 10% skill and 90% luck. Sometimes you would get people with such strong pulses you could almost see it, and still not be able to hit the artery. Other times, you could hit it the first time even if the pulses were barely palpable. It is one test I don't think I would want, but if it had to be done, I would get through it.
   — koogy