Abstract: In order to simplify the operation for determination of the acid-base status of blood, composed of the values for pH, pCO.sub.2 and the base excess BE, the base excess BE is determined through measurement of the pH-value at a pCO.sub.2 of about 0 mn Hg. The pH-values may be determined photometrically, in which case the indicator solution for measuring the actual blood-pH is an aqueous solution of 40 micromol/l bromthymol blue plus 0.2 g/l sodium dodecylsulfate plus 1% ethanol; and for measurement of the base excess BE is an aqueous solution of 65 micro mol/l naphtholphthalein plus 0.2 g/l sodium dodecylsulfate plus 15% dimethylsulfoxide, which are measured at a wavelength of 635 nm. If desired, one may use a single solution for measuring both actual blood-pH as well as the base excess BE, composed of 16 micromol/l bromthymol blue plus 34 micromol/l naphtholphthalein plus 0.15 g/l sodium dodecylsulfate, which is measured at 615 nm wavelength.

Abstract: In order to simplify the operation for determination of the acid-base status of blood, composed of the values for pH, pCO.sub.2 and the base excess BE, the base excess BE is determined through measurement of the pH-value at a pCO.sub.2 of about 0 mm Hg. The pH-values may be determined photometrically, in which case the indicator solution for measuring the actual blood-pH is an aqueous solution of 40 micromol/l bromthymol blue plus 0.2 g/l sodium dodecylsulfate plus 1% ethanol; and for measurement of the base excess BE is an aqueous solution of 65 micro mol/l naphtholphthalein plus 0.2 g/l sodium dodecylsulfate plus 15% dimethylsulfoxide, which are measured at a wavelength of 635 nm. If desired, one may use a single solution for measuring both actual blood-pH as well as the base excess BE, composed of 16 micromol/l bromthymol blue plus 34 micromol/l naphtholphthalein plus 0.15 g/l sodium dodecylsulfate, which is measured at 615 nm wavelength.

Abstract: A reagent for photometric determination of the hemoglobin content of blood, which produces a characteristic color upon addition of the blood sample, consisting of an aqueous alkaline solution comprising a water-soluble, non-ionic detergent, whereby all hemoglobin-derivatives occurring in the blood and hemederivatives are converted into a unitary end product having a distinct absorption maximum in the visible spectral range.