Test Overview
A carbon monoxide blood test is used to detect
from breathing carbon monoxide (CO), a
colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. The test measures the amount of hemoglobin
that has bonded with carbon monoxide. This amount is also called the
carboxyhemoglobin level. See a picture of
.
When a person inhales carbon monoxide,
it combines with the red blood cells that normally carry oxygen to the body's
tissues and replaces the oxygen that is normally carried in the blood. As a
result, less oxygen is carried to the brain and other body tissues. Carbon
monoxide can cause severe poisoning and death.
Carbon monoxide is
made during burning when there is not enough oxygen present for complete
combustion. The main sources of carbon monoxide are automobile exhaust fumes,
fires burning with poor ventilation (such as gas heaters and indoor cooking
fires), factories, and smoking tobacco.