Acid-base-induced changes in the distribution of water between plasma and erythrocytes, as measured with a sodium-ion-selective electrode.

aNa+ measured in whole blood changes with the pH of plasma, and the effect depends on the erythrocyte volume fraction (phi E). The relative change in aNa+ with pH, dlnaNa+/dpH, was -0.01 at phi E = 0 and -0.11 at phi E = 0.76. The observations agreed with the combined predicted effects of changes in phi E, in concentration of the NaHCO3 complex, and in liquid-junction potential. The pH-induced osmotic transfer of water between plasma and erythrocytes will affect the concentration of all components confined to plasma. Although the clinical importance of this may be limited, blood samples for research should either be dealt with immediately or stored anaerobically at 4 degrees C until separation, to avoid bias.