Who can perform an arterial blood gas procedure?

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The main idea tested is that arterial blood gas collection requires formal training and demonstrated competency because it is an invasive procedure with real risks. Drawing blood from an artery, not a vein, demands precise technique to avoid complications such as arterial injury, hematoma, arterial spasm, infection, or thrombosis, and to ensure the sample stays accurate for analysis. Because of these potential complications and the need for proper handling—using a heparinized syringe, protecting the sample from air exposure, and delivering it quickly to the analyzer—only clinicians who have received specific training and are operating under an institutional protocol should perform it. In practice, that typically means respiratory therapists, nurses, physicians, or other professionals with arterial puncture training, rather than untrained personnel or general medical assistants.