Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Blood for Carbon Monoxide

Abstract

A Burrell Kromo-Tog II instrument was used in the gas chromatographic analysis of the blood of guinea-pigs for carbon monoxide. A special reaction chamber was designed and connected in the carrier flow stream ahead of the column. Oxygen, nitrogen and carbon monoxide gases were released from blood by a ferricyanide reagent in a helium atmosphere in the reaction chamber, and separated in a column packed with molecular sieve. Blood samples saturated with carbon monoxide were analysed and the carbon monoxide peak areas were obtained by planimeter measurements. The average peak area so obtained was taken to represent 100% carboxyhaemoglobin saturation. Excellent separation of the carbon monoxide from the contaminating gases of oxygen and nitrogen was obtained. The results of this testing were compared with a colorimetric test. A comparison of the 2 tests indicates that the gas chromatographic method of carboxyhaemoglobin analysis yields values considerably below those obtained by the colorimetric test, and below levels generally expected from mammals which have died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. The lower carboxyhaemoglobin levels obtained by the gas chromatographic test may have resulted from an accumulation of carbon dioxide on the molecular sieve column.