CALIBRATION OF ELECTRODES

Abstract: A CO2 electrode can be calibrated with two PCO2 calibration standard solutions having known pH values and known bicarbonate ion source concentrations. An O2 electrode can be calibrated using air as one calibration standard and a solution containing an excess of an O2 depleting agent as a second calibration standard.

Description: CAUBPATIQN QF SkECTRQPES The invention relates to calibration standards for electrodes. Background of the Invention Blood gas analyzers typically include electrodes that measure the pH, the partial pressure of C0 2 (PC0 2 ) and the partial pressure of 0 2 (P0 2 ) of a blood sample. Such electrodes generally are calibrated prior to use on a blood sample. Calibration of an electrode involves contacting the electrode with at least two standard solutions or gases having known concentrations of the substance being analyzed (e.g., C0 2 ) . The electrode provides an electrical response that is used to generate a calibration slope. The electrode then is contacted with the blood sample, generating a further electrical response, and the calibration slope is used to convert this electrical response into the concentration of the substance in the blood sample. Electrodes in blood gas analyzers are calibrated periodically because the response provided by an electrode for a particular sample tends to drift (vary) with the passage of time. Different types of standard solutions or gases have been used to calibrate C0 2 and 0 2 electrodes. One type of calibration standard is generated by bubbling a dry C0 2 and 0 2 gas mixture through a humidifier. If the volume fraction of C0 2 and 0 2 in the dry gas mixture are known, the PC0 2 and P0 2 in the humidified gas can be calculated as follows: PC0 2 = vC0 2 X (P atrn - 47 mmHg) P0 2 = V0 2 X (P atm - 47 mmHg) In the equations, the P at m i s the atmosphere pressure (which is equal to 760 mmHg at standard condition) , and 47 mmHg is the saturated water vapor pressure at 37°C. Gas tonometered aqueous solutions packaged in sealed containers also have been used as calibration standards for C0 2 and 0 2 electrodes. The manufacturing environment for the gas tonometered solutions requires precise temperature and pressure control to ensure the accuracy of the calibration standards. It generally also is necessary to equilibrate these standards, external of a blood gas analyzer, to a known temperature before using them to calibrate the electrodes in the analyzer. This equilibrating process can be very time consuming depending upon the ambient temperature and the amount of standard solution in the container. It also requires complex constant temperature controlling hardware. Other calibration standards that have been used with C0 and 0 electrodes contain water, an organic solvent, and a C0 2 or 0 2 complexing agent to vary 0 2 and C0 2 solubility in the sample. Summary of the Invention The invention relates to using aqueous standards to calibrate the pH, PC0 , and P0 2 electrodes in a blood gas analyzer. The aqueous standards require no gas tonometry, no precise temperature and pressure control during manufacture, and no time-consuming temperature equilibration prior to use. The aqueous standards are relatively stable, and have a long shelf-life. One aspect of the invention features a method of calibrating a C0 2 electrode. The method is based on the recognition that the PC0 2 of an aqueous solution can be determined if the concentration of a bicarbonate ion source in the sample and the pH of a solution are known. The method includes: (1) determining the PC0 2 of a first C0 calibration standard solution from the concentration of bicarbonate ion source and the pH of the first standard solution; (2) determining the PC0 2 of a second C0 calibration standard solution from the concentration of bicarbonate ion source and the pH of the second standard solution; and (3) calibrating a C0 2 electrode using the first and second C0 2 calibration standard solutions. The featured method for calibrating a C0 2 electrode derives from the following scientific principles. The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation provides: pH = pK + log{[HC0 3 ] / (α x PC0 2 ) } (1) In the equation, K is the dissociation constant for carbonic acid and α (mmol/L/mmHg) , the Bunson coefficient, is the solubility coefficient of C0 2 . At 37°C, pK is 6.091 and α is 0.0307. By including these constants, equation (1) can be rearranged as follows: PC0 2 = [HC0 3 ] x IO* 7*60 *^ (2) Thus, if a known amount of HC0 3 exits in an aqueous solution, the PC0 2 in the aqueous solution can be calculated from equation (2) using the pH of the same solution measured at 37°C. Utilizing this concept, a pair of C0 2 calibration standard solutions can be formulated with different pH and HCO 3 concentrations to provide two calibration points to calibrate the C0 2 electrode. The preferred C0 2 calibration standard solutions contain pH buffers and NaHC0 3 (a bicarbonate ion source) . The dissolved C0 2 in the pH buffers is negligible before adding the bicarbonate. The HC0 3 concentration for each standard can be expressed as equation (3) after adding a known amount of NaHC0 3 salt to the buffer solution sealed in a gas impermeable container: [HC0 3 ] = [NaHC0 3 ] - α x PC0 2 (3) Rearranging equation (2) and (3) , PC0 2 = [NaHC0 3 ] x IO 7 - 60 *- ! *) / {1 + α x ι 0 (7 * 604 -P H >} (4) From equation (4) , the PC0 2 of each C0 2 calibration standard solution can be calculated directly from the known NaHC0 3 concentration and the pH of the standard solution at 37°C. Once the PC0 2 of the calibration standard solutions are known, the standard solutions can be used to calibrate the C0 2 electrode. The gas impermeable container can be a pouch formed by heat sealing together the flexible, gas impermeable material. The C0 2 calibration standard solutions preferably are packaged in the gas impermeable container with zero head space to reduce the air contamination. Preferably, the zero head space is maintained as the reagent is consumed For example, with the preferred pouches one end of the pouch includes a resealable system through which standard solutions can be provided to the gas tight flow path of the analyzer. As the C0 2 calibration standard solution in the pouch is fed to the flow path, the pouch collapses because the flow path is gas tight and as a result no volume replacement occur. The PC0 and pH of the C0 2 calibration standard solutions can vary somewhat due to changes in temperature and pressure, which can cause, for example, outgassing of the C0 2 in the standard. Thus, the pH of each C0 2 calibration standard solution can be measured by the pH electrode in the blood gas analyzer. Preferably, prior to measuring the pH and the C0 2 of the calibration standard solution, the pH electrode is calibrated with two pH calibration standards, each of which should have a known constant pH. A second aspect of the invention features a method of calibrating an 0 2 electrode. The method employs two 0 2 calibration standards. One 0 2 calibration standard is room air, which has a P0 2 of approximately 150 mm Hg at 1 atm. The second 0 2 calibration standard contains an excess of an 0 2 depleting agent, preferably Na 2 S0 3 or Na 2 S 2 0 4 , and thus has a P0 2 of zero. The second 0 2 calibration standard preferably is packaged in a gas impermeable container. The featured method includes the step of calibrating an 0 2 electrode using the first and second 0 2 calibration standards. Another aspect of the invention features a method of calibrating pH, C0 2 , and 0 2 electrodes in the same blood gas analyzer. The method includes calibrating the pH electrodes using two pH calibration standards; calibrating the C0 2 electrode using the first and second PC0 2 calibration standard solutions; and calibrating the 0 2 electrode using the first and second P0 2 calibration standards. Preferably, the pH of each of the PC0 2 calibration standard solutions is measured by the pH electrode in the blood gas analyzer. In addition, preferably the second P0 2 calibration standard is also used as a pH calibration standard. Another aspect of the invention features a method of manufacturing a calibration standard solution having a known PC0 for a C0 2 electrode. The method includes adding a known amount of a bicarbonate ion source to provide an aqueous solution having a known concentration of the bicarbonate ion source; sealing the aqueous solution in a gas impermeable environment; measuring the pH of the aqueous solution; and from the pH and the concentration of the bicarbonate ion source, determining the PC0 2 of the solution. Another aspect of the invention features a calibration standard that can be used to calibrate a C0 electrode. The standard solution includes a known quantity of a bicarbonate ion source, and is enclosed in a gas impermeable container. Preferably the container includes substantially no head space, thus minimizing air contamination. The standard solution is further characterized in that once the pH of the standard is determined the PC0 2 of the standard can be accurately calculated from the pH and the concentration of the bicarbonate ion source, thus allowing the solution to be used for calibrating a C0 electrode. A significant advantage of the present invention is that the calibration standards can be manufactured at normal conditions without needing an elaborate controlled environment, and then used to calibrate C0 2 and 0 2 electrode in blood gas analyzers in which the temperature is usually maintained at 37°C without first equilibrating the standard solutions to a known constant temperature prior to use. The effect of temperature variation can be compensated through the variation of the pH in the standard solution, which are measured during calibration by the pH electrode in the analyzer. In the case of P0 2 electrode calibration the room air sample aspirated into the electrode measuring site is controlled at 37°C during system calibration, and the other 0 calibration sample contains no dissolved oxygen. As a result, temperature variation of the second 0 2 calibration standard will not affect the P0 2 of the sample. Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description of the preferred embodiment thereof, and from the claims. Brief Description of the Drawing Figure 1 is a gas impermeable container. Figure 2 is a fluid flow diagram. Description of the Preferred Embodiments Blood gas analyzers typically include pH, C0 2 , and 0 2 electrodes. The preferred method of calibrating these electrodes employs five calibration standards. Two standard solutions are used to calibrate the C0 2 electrode. Preferred C0 calibration standard solutions include a pH buffer and a known concentration of a bicarbonate ion source like NaHC0 3 . The C0 2 calibration standard solutions preferably are formulated so that PC0 2 of one calibration standard solution is at normal level of approximately 40 mm Hg, and the PC0 2 of the second calibration standard solution is towards the high end of the range (approximately 70 mm Hg) . The calibration standards preferably are buffered to a pH of between 6 and 8. Biological buffers such as phosphates, MES, HEPES, MOPSO and Tris buffers can be used. Two additional calibration standards are used to calibrate the pH electrode. Any conventional pH calibration standard can be used. One standard preferably has a pH that is at normal level of approximately 7.4, and the other sample has a pH that is approximately 6.8. The standards preferably include conventional buffer systems such as phosphate, HEPES, MES, MOPSO, and Tris buffers. Preferably, one of the two pH calibration standards also serves as an 0 2 calibration standard. To accomplish this, an excess of an 0 2 depleting agent is added to one of the pH calibration standards, so that the standard has a P0 2 of zero. Preferred 0 2 depleting agents include Na 2 S 2 0 4 , Na 2 S0 3 , ascorbic, or other reducing agents. The second calibration standard is air, which has a P0 2 of 150 mm Hg at atmospheric pressure. A preferred set of calibration standards (excluding air) for use in calibrating PC0 2 , P0 2 , and pH electrodes in blood analyzers is provided in Table 1. Solutions A and B are the PC0 2 calibration standards; solutions C and D are the pH calibration standards; and solution D also is a P0 2 calibration standard. TABLE I The relevant calibration concentrations corresponding to each of the above solutions are provided below in Table 2: TABLE II The actual PC0 2 in solutions A and B are calculated using equation 4 after the pH measurements for solutions A and B are completed during the calibration cycle. The actual calculated PC0 2 values in both solutions A and B are then used to calculate the Nernestian slope of the PC0 2 electrode. The calibration standards, and in particular standard solutions A, B, and D, are stored in separate gas impermeable containers, preferably pouches, that include substantially no head space. A preferred pouch is illustrated in Figure 1. The pouch can be made of any gas impermeable material. Preferred pouch materials include VAPOR LOC (VF-52, POLYESTER POLYESTER/LDPE/FOIL/LDPE/LLDPE) , LUDLOW LAMINATION (MARVEL SEAL 360, BLAX NYLON FILM/LDPE/FOIL/LDPE/EVA BLEND) and BP/BXL PLASTICS (AA 601/100, AA 601/120, AA 601/150, LLDPE/TIE LAYER/EVOH/TIE LAYER/LLDPE) . The bottom end of the pouch includes a re- sealable septum 10. The top of the pouch has been heat sealed. To prevent the outgassing of C0 in solutions A and B and the air contamination by 0 2 in standard D during solution preparation, concentrated NaHC0 3 and Na 2 S 2 0 4 solutions are prepared separately and stored in the gas tight glass syringes. The pouch is sealed by a pair of clips at two pre-marked head spaces as illustrated in Figure 1 after filling the pouch with the standard with no NaHC0 3 (solutions A and B) or Na 2 S 2 0 4 (solution D) added. The bottom clip is positioned right at the fluid level to ensure zero headspace in the pouch. The air between two clips is vacated by collapsing that portion of the pouch before the top clip is positioned to the mark. The bottom clip is then removed before the concentrated NaHC0 3 or Na 2 S 2 0 4 solution is injected into the pouch through the resealable septum at the bottom of the pouch. The amount of solution injected is pre- calculated to provide accurate ingredients for the formulation and to fill the pouch to the top clip positions, creating a near zero head space within the pouch. The preferred calibration solutions can be used to calibrate the pH, C0 2 , and 0 2 electrodes in typical blood gas analyzers. The main components of a preferred analyzer are referred to in Figure 2, which generally sets out a preferred fluid flow path through the analyzer. The main components are some combination of electrodes, including pH, C0 2 , and 0 2 electrodes; a peristaltic pump to drive the fluid flow through the system; a solenoid valve to stop the fluid flow before the chemistry measurement; a sampler with a septa assembly to withdraw the patient blood sample and calibration standards; a flowcell assembly to house the measuring electrodes; and a sample preheater and an air bath compartment designed to maintain the temperature at 37°C in the flowcell assembly. To prevent the gas loss or contamination during the reagent transportation within the system, a gas tight conventional Leur-lock, is used for the inter-connection between the septum on the pouch illustrated in Fig. 1 and the gas impermeable tubing (e.g., stainless steel) which connects the fluid flow to the sampler and septa assembly. The fluid movement is controlled by a set of microprocessor processed measuring sequences that coordinate the function of electro-mechanical components. The following are the key sequences for providing the measurement of blood chemistry. The sequences can be used with the preferred calibration standards (see Table 1): i) Idle Sequence System will stay idled if not in busy status. System will also return to idle status at the end of each calibration and analysis sequence. The idle sequence includes the aspiration of calibration standard A into the flowcell assembly. ii) Calibration Sequence By controlling the pump and sampler movement, calibration standards A, B, C, and D, and air are aspirated into the flowcell assembly and measured by the corresponding electrodes as listed in TABLE II. The performance slope for each electrode is established after a successful calibration. iii) Analysis Sequence A blood sample is aspirated into the flowcell assembly and measured. After the wash cycle using calibration standard C, calibration standard A is brought into the flowcell assembly and measured. These two measurements provide the pH, PC0 2 and P0 2 results of the sample. The chemistry tests provided in this invention can be expanded to match the NOVA STAT PROFILE 9 PLUS blood gas analyzer (pH, PC0 2 , P0 2 , Na, K, Cl, Ca, glucose, lactate and Hct) with proper modification of the calibration standards. No pressurized gas tanks are needed in this invention. Other embodiments are within the claims. What is claimed is:

Claims: CLAIMS: - 12 - 1. A method of calibrating a C0 2 electrode, comprising (a) providing a first C0 2 calibration standard comprising water, a known concentration of a bicarbonate ion source, and a known pH; (b) determining the PC0 2 of said first C0 2 calibration standard from said known concentration of bicarbonate ion source in said first C0 2 calibration standard and said known pH of said first C0 2 calibration standard; (c) providing a second C0 2 calibration standard comprising water, a known concentration of a bicarbonate ion source, and a known pH; (d) determining the PC0 2 of said second C0 2 calibration standard from said known concentration of bicarbonate ion source in said second C0 2 calibration standard and said known pH of said second C0 2 calibration standard; (e) contacting said C0 2 electrode with said first C0 2 calibration standard to generate a first electrical response; (f) contacting said C0 2 electrode with said second C0 2 calibration standard to generate a second electrical response; and (g) generating a calibration slope for said C0 2 electrode using said first electrical response and said second electrical response. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first C0 2 calibration standard and said second C0 2 calibration standard prior to use are stored in separate gas impermeable containers. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said gas impermeable containers comprise collapsible pouches including substantially no head space. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said collapsible pouches each includes a resealable septum through which the C0 2 calibration standard can be removed without introducing head space into the collapsible pouch. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said bicarbonate ion source is sodium bicarbonate. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said C0 2 electrode is a component of a blood gas analyzer that also includes a pH electrode, said method further comprising measuring the pH of said first C0 2 calibration standard with said pH electrode to provide said known pH of said first C0 2 calibration standard, and measuring the pH of said second C0 2 calibration standard with said pH electrode to provide said known pH of said second C0 2 calibration standard. 7. The method of claim 4, said method further comprising: (h) contacting said pH electrode with a first pH calibration standard having a known pH to generate a third electrical response; (i) contacting said pH electrode with a second pH calibration standard having a known pH to generate a fourth electrical response; and (j) generating a calibration slope for said pH electrode using said third electrical response and said fourth electrical response. 8. A method of calibrating an 0 2 electrode, comprising (a) providing an 0 2 calibration standard comprising water and an excess of an 0 2 depleting agent, said first 0 2 calibration standard having a P0 2 of essentially zero; (b) contacting said 0 2 calibration standard with said 0 2 electrode to generate a first electrical response; (c) contacting said 0 2 electrode with air to provide a second electrical response; and (d) generating a calibration slope for said 0 2 electrode using said first electrical response and said second electrical response. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said 0 2 calibration standard prior to use is stored in a gas impermeable container. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein said 0 2 depleting agent is selected from the group consisting of Na 2 S 2 0 4 and Na 2 S0 3 . 11. The method of claim 8, wherein said 0 2 electrode is a component of a blood gas analyzer that also comprises a pH electrode, wherein said first 0 2 calibration standard has a known pH, said method further comprising using said first 0 calibration standard to calibrate said pH electrode. 12. A method of calibrating a C0 2 electrode, an 0 2 electrode, and a pH electrode in a blood gas analyzer, said method comprising: (a) providing a first C0 calibration standard comprising water, a known concentration of a bicarbonate ion source, and a known pH; (b) determining the PC0 2 of said first C0 2 calibration standard from said known concentration of bicarbonate ion source in said first C0 2 calibration standard and said known pH of said first C0 2 calibration standard; (c) providing a second C0 2 calibration standard comprising water, a known concentration of a bicarbonate ion source, and a known pH; (d) determining the PC0 2 of said second C0 2 calibration standard from said known concentration of bicarbonate ion source in said second C0 2 calibration standard and said known pH of said second C0 2 calibration standard; (e) contacting said C0 2 electrode with said first C0 2 calibration standard to generate a first electrical response; (f) contacting said C0 2 electrode with said second C0 2 calibration standard to generate a second electrical response; (g) generating a calibration slope for said C0 2 electrode using said first electrical response and said second electrical response; (h) contacting said pH electrode with a first pH calibration standard having a known pH to generate a third electrical response; (i) contacting said pH electrode with a second pH calibration standard having a known pH to generate a fourth electrical response; (j) generating a calibration slope for said pH electrode using said third electrical response and said fourth electrical response; (k) providing an 0 2 calibration standard comprising water and an excess of an 0 2 depleting agent, said first 0 2 calibration standard having a P0 of essentially zero; (1) contacting said 0 2 calibration standard with said 0 2 electrode to generate a fifth electrical response; (m) contacting said 0 2 electrode with air to provide a sixth electrical response; and (n) generating a calibration slope for said 0 2 electrode using said fifth electrical response and said sixth electrical response. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said first C0 2 calibration standard and said second C0 2 calibration standard prior to use are stored in separate gas impermeable containers that includes substantially no head space. 14. The method of claim 12, said method further comprising measuring the pH of said first C0 calibration standard with said pH electrode to provide said known pH of said first C0 2 calibration standard, and measuring the pH of said second C0 2 calibration standard with said pH electrode to provide said known pH of said second C0 2 calibration standard. 15. The method of claim 12, wherein said first pH calibration standard and said 0 2 calibration standard are the same standard. 16. A method of manufacturing a calibration standard for a C0 2 electrode, comprising (a) providing an aqueous solution containing a known concentration of a bicarbonate ion source; (b) providing said aqueous solution with a gas impermeable container; (c) measuring the pH of said aqueous solution; and (d) determining the PC0 2 of said aqueous solution from said concentration of said bicarbonate ion source and said pH. 17. The method of claim 14, wherein step (c) is performed prior to step (b) . 18. A calibration product suitable for use in calibrating a C0 2 electrode, said product comprising a gas impermeable container including an aqueous C0 2 calibration standard and substantially no head space, said calibration standard comprising an aqueous solution including a known concentration of a bicarbonate ion source, said calibration standard being characterized in that once the pH of said calibration standard is known the PC0 2 of said calibration standard can be accurately determined from said pH and said concentration of bicarbonate ion source. 19. The calibration product of claim 18, wherein said gas impermeable container comprises a collapsible pouch. 20. The calibration product of claim 19, wherein said collapsible pouch includes a resealable septum through which said calibration standard can be removed without introducing head space into said collapsible pouch. 21. The calibration product of claim 18, wherein said gas impermeable enclosure is designed such that no head space is generated when said calibration standard is removed from said gas impermeable enclosure. 22. The calibration product of claim 18, wherein said bicarbonate ion source comprises sodium bicarbonate.

Inventors: CHIEN JEFFREY, FERRAGAMO DAVID, WELCH ROBIN A, YOUNG CHUNG CHANG, CHIEN, JEFFREY, FERRAGAMO, DAVID, WELCH, ROBIN, A., YOUNG, CHUNG, CHANG
Applicants: NOVA BIOMEDICAL CORP, NOVA BIOMEDICAL CORPORATION
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G01N27
IPC codes: G01N27, G01N33