I'd like to measure blood pH for an MSc project I am undertaking but cannot directly measure blood pH from the blood as the University does not have the equipment. I've read that saliva and urine tests are commercially available but would like to know which is the more accurate? Or in fact, if there is any other way of measuring blood pH?
Hi Harvey, although saliva contains a lot of plasma contents, I would not recommend using it to estimate blood pH because of the microbial activity in the oral cavity.
Urine pH would be more direct, but there are caveats in terms of how well the subject is hydrated, diabetes, urinal tract microbes, sample collection, etc.
But, blood pH is highly regulated and a +/- 1 pH unit deviation from pH 7.3 means you are most likely dead.
Hey Harvey,
I have to agree with Steingrimur- blood pH is highly regulated, and doesn't always correlate with urine or saliva. Small changes can be of huge importance. Also remember that arterial blood is normally around 7.41 and venous blood is at 7.36- mainly due to dissolved gasses. Your best bet is to stick strictly to either venous or arterial blood, and draw into a coagulant that doesn't add artifact to them (pref Heparin) in a vacutainer to protect its current gas composition.
Hello,
I would also like to measure blood pH level. Could anyone give me a tested protocol and information about assay kit?
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