Potassium Pallado Sulfite Detection of Carbon Monoxide in Exhaled Air as an Estimate of Carboxyhemoglobin

Abstract

From 22 comparisons of COHb from blood with that calculated from exhaled CO after 20 seconds of breathholding using the potassium pallado sulfite method, the overall chi-square fit was exception]ally good (P > 0.99). However, the higher segment of the range (8-17% COHb) showed twice the deviation (3.0% COHb) as the 1-8% portion (1.5% COHb). This is because the potassium pallado sulfite technique has less accuracy above 50 ppm of CO, a fact evident from reproducibility data on exhaled CO samples. Though not advocated for critical research determinations, the technique has potential value for obtaining public health information.