ABG Compensation Quiz
Read the gas and judge the compensation status — ten panels per round.
Panel 1 of 10
pH
7.57
PaCO₂
38 mmHg
HCO₃
30 mEq/L
Written by Apex Respiratory Editorial Team
About this quiz
This is the advanced companion to the ABG Interpretation Quiz. Find the primary disorder, then judge the compensation: uncompensated means the other buffer is still normal; partially compensated means both are abnormal in opposite directions but the pH is still off; fully compensated means the pH is back in 7.35–7.45 (read the primary off whichever side of 7.40 it sits on); and a mixed disorder is both buffers driving the pH the same way, so nothing is compensating.
Educational use only. Panels are generated for exam practice; they use the primary-versus-buffer direction to teach the pattern and do not apply the expected-compensation formulas (Winter's, etc.) that confirm a second disorder at the bedside. This material supports respiratory therapy education and exam review. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional protocols, or physician orders. Always follow facility policies and current provider orders, and verify calculations independently before clinical use.
Sources
- Kacmarek RM, Stoller JK, Heuer AJ. Egan's Fundamentals of Respiratory Care. 12th ed. Elsevier; 2021.
- Malley WJ. Clinical Blood Gases: Assessment and Intervention. 2nd ed. Elsevier Saunders; 2005.