i-STAT G3+ cartridge; List Number: 03P78-26;
Approximately 7.6% of cartridges from specific i-STAT EG7+ (list number 03P76-25), i-STAT EG6+ (list number 03P77-25) and i-STAT G3+ (list number 03P78-26) cartridge lots in the U.S. marketplace may report higher than expected PCO2 and lower than expected pH results due to a manufacturing issue. A falsely high pCO2 together with a falsely low pH makes the blood gas appear as if the patient is in severe respiratory acidosis. If the clinician believes the values are real, it may trigger unnecessary or even harmful interventions such as unnecessary ventilator changes, unnecessary medications, potential harm from overcorrection, or delays in identifying true problems.