pH stat temperature correction adjusts blood gas values for which parameter?

• A. Ambient room temperature
• B. Patient temperature
• C. Altitude
• D. Humidity

Answer: (B)

Temperature of the patient is what pH stat temperature correction targets. Gas concentrations in blood—pH, PaCO2, and PaO2—depend on temperature because gas solubility and the acid-base relationships shift as the blood warms or cools. When a patient is on bypass and their blood is being cooled or warmed, the ABG values measured at the analyzer’s standard temperature don’t reflect the actual in-body conditions. By correcting the blood gas values to the patient’s current temperature, you interpret ventilation and acid-base status accurately for that physiologic state. Environmental factors like ambient room temperature, altitude, or humidity don’t directly change the blood’s gas relationships in this context, so the correction focuses on the patient’s temperature.